Which place is cheaper, Berlin or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Penang or Berlin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Penang and Berlin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Penang or Berlin?
Penang
Just off the northwestern coast of Malaysia is the charming and diverse island state of Penang. As the link between the ancient kingdoms of Asia and Europe's colonial empire, this area is enriched with Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. This exciting culture is centered in George Town, the main city of the state.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
-
Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesBerlin Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Berlin $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Berlin is $205. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Penang and Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Berlin $75
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Berlin $150
Compare Hotels in Penang and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Berlin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Penang Hotel Prices and Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Berlin $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Penang
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:
-
Local Bus$1.43
-
Island Ferry$0.57
-
Bus From Airport to George Town$0.64
-
Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
-
Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.13
-
Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $275
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $206
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $70
- ATV Ride in Balik Pulau with Snacks and Transfers: $66
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
-
Short Trip Metro Ticket$1.64
-
Bahn Ticket$3.52
-
Short Taxi Ride$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City by Luxury Van: $165
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City in Business Car: $159
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Car: $165
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Business Car: $118
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Van: $130
- Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $163
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $120
- Berlin Private Airport/Hotels Transfer Service | English Speaking: $163
- Berlin Private Transfer from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Berlin City centre: $110
- Berlin Private Transfer to/from Berlin Brandenburg Airport: $57
- Berlin to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) - Departure Transfer: $81
- Berlin to Prague Private Transfer: $587
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin and Penang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayPenang $64Berlin $105
Typical Food Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:
-
Snack$1.90
-
Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$81
-
Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$69
-
Lassy Juice$1.66
-
Dinner for 2$3.57
-
Street Stall Food$0.67
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.52
-
Italian Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $62
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $92
- Authentic Indian Penang Cooking Class: $92
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $94
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
-
Sandwich and Coffee To Go$5.87
-
Turkish Sandwich$2.35
-
Currywurst$2.35
-
2 Pho Noodles$11
-
Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)$70
-
Mauer Park (2)$13
-
Coffees at Impala$9.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $39
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $53
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $84
- Berlin Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better : $85
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Dinner Experience: $88
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $92
- Street Food Tour with 10 Tastings: $93
- Berlin 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $93
- Vegetarian Berlin Food Tour Global Flavors in Alexanderplatz: $93
- True Berlin Street Food Tour – Global Flavors in Alexanderplatz: $98
- Berlin Street Food Tour by Bike: $102
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Berlin $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Penang
Here are a few typical costs in Penang for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Butterfly Gardens$7.37
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.13
-
Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.48
-
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.38
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- George Town Highlights & Upside Down Museum tours (5 Hours): $67
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $147
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $93
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $60
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $68
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $168
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- All-Inclusive Penang George Town Private Tour: $153
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $88
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Berlin Zoo (2)$23
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Rude Walking Tour: $3.52
- Self Guided Tours Berlin With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.57
- Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.58
- Berlin Third Reich Walking Tour: $4.78
- Berlin Highlights Walking Tour: $4.78
- Berlin's Museum Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Ku'damm Couture and Currywurst: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
- Berlin Wall: Greatest Escapes Self-Guided Walking Adventure: $5.96
- The Dönerkebab's History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Third Reich Quest Experience in Berlin: $7.16
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Berlin's Jewish Quarter: $7.99
- Berlin Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Berlin $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:
-
Beer$1.90
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
-
Drinks at a Show$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Berlin Pub Crawl: $24
- Original Pub Crawl Berlin: $24
- Night Pub Crawl Tour in Berlin Shots and Party: $30
- Beer hike in Berlin Experience brewery and craft beer: $66
- Showgirls of Burlesque Show: $76
- Culinary Journey and Wine Tasting in Kerstin's Wine Kitchen: $78
- New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl with Open Bar in Berlin: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Berlin, we can see that Berlin is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Berlin is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Penang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Penang and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin than you might in Penang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Berlin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Penang or Berlin?
Berlin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Penang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Penang or Berlin in the Summer?
Both Berlin and Penang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Berlin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Berlin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Berlin. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 227 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Berlin. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Berlin 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Penang or Berlin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Berlin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Berlin because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Penang is much warmer than Berlin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Berlin fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Berlin. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Berlin 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Penang or Berlin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Berlin. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.
It's quite cold in Berlin in the winter. In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Berlin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Berlin averages at about -0°C (31°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Berlin. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Berlin -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Penang or Berlin in the Spring?
Both Berlin and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Berlin for the activities around the city.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Berlin during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Berlin. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Berlin 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Berlin and Penang
| Penang | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.