Which place is cheaper, Gold Coast or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Penang or Gold Coast?
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 Gold Coast. 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 Gold Coast?
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.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier destinations. Famous for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, watersports, and plenty of activities for all ages, millions of tourists from Australia as well as everywhere in the world flock to this region every year. With beaches, national parks, theme parks, shopping and dining, nice resorts, boating, fishing, diving, theme parks and more, the Gold Coast offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia, and The Best Photography Tours in Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesGold Coast Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Gold Coast $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Gold Coast is $119. 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 Gold Coast in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Gold Coast $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Gold Coast $110
Compare Hotels in Penang and Gold Coast
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Gold Coast? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Gold Coast $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Penang
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:
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Local Bus$1.43
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Island Ferry$0.57
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.64
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.13
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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
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gold Coast
Also for Gold Coast, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast by Business Car: $113
- Arrival Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast by Luxury Van: $139
- Departure Private Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Van: $133
- From Gold Coast : Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket: $132
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Business Car: $108
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $108
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Car: $139
- Gold Coast Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $21
- Gold Coast to Byron Bay scenic One Way Transfer: $81
- Chill Out at Byron Bay Bus Transfer: $72
- OOL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Gold Coast?
Prices for flights to both Gold Coast 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
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Food Meals for one dayPenang $64Gold Coast $47
Typical Food Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:
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Snack$1.90
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$81
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$69
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Lassy Juice$1.66
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Dinner for 2$3.57
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Street Stall Food$0.67
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.52
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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
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $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
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $99
- Private Dinner at THE TOP with Skywalk Experience from Penang: $103
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gold Coast
For Gold Coast, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Brisbane/Sunset, Dinner, Stars/Premium Telescope: $79
- Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner & Show: $79
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $87
- Gold Coast Private Sunset Sailing Charter w/ dinner & drinks: $310
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Gold Coast $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Penang
Here are a few typical costs in Penang for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Butterfly Gardens$7.37
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.13
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.48
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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
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- 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
- Colors of George Town Walking Tour: $138
- Countryside Cycling Tour. T1.0 by Matahari: $97
- ESCAPE Penang Theme Park Admission Ticket : $73
- Enjoy Amazing Night Tour in Penang : $84
Tours and Activities in Gold Coast
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gold Coast.
- Spring Brook National Park Self Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Spring Brook National Park Driving Tour with an APP: $15
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Midday River and Canal Cruise: $15
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Morning River and Canal Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $21
- SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket: $22
- SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket: $23
- Surfers Paradise: Cruise, HOTA Gallery Entry, & Dining Pass: $26
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $29
- Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Cruise: $30
- Surfers Paradise: IceBar Entry Ticket and Drink: $32
- Aquaduck City Tour and River Cruise: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Gold Coast $5.23
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:
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Beer$1.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Gold Coast
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gold Coast:
- Granddad Jack's Distillery Gin Tasting & Talk: $43
- Queensland Distillery Tour: $76
- Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $77
- Sirromet Wine Tasting and Blending Workshop for 2: $84
- Wine, Distillery & Rainforest Day Tour: $151
- Private Bespoke Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour: $161
- Tamborine Mountain Wine Tour with 2-Course Lunch: $165
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast : $167
- Luxury Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch & Distillery: $198
- Gold Coast and Craft Brewery VIP Tour from Brisbane: $959
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Gold Coast, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Gold Coast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Gold Coast is in Pacific, 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 Gold Coast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gold Coast 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 Penang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Penang than you might in Gold Coast.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Gold Coast Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Gold Coast?
Gold Coast has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Gold Coast, 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 Gold Coast?
Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast in the Summer?
Both Gold Coast 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, many travelers come to Gold Coast for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Penang is around the same temperature as Gold Coast in the summer. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
In Gold Coast, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin January. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 256 hours of full sun.
Gold Coast gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Gold Coastin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Gold Coast 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Penang or Gold Coast in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Gold Coast. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Gold Coast in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Penang is a little warmer than Gold Coast. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Penang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
Gold Coast receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Gold Coastin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Gold Coast 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Penang or Gold Coast in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Gold Coast. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Gold Coast for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Penang is generally much warmer than Gold Coastin July. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Gold Coast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Penang usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Gold Coastin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Gold Coast 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Penang or Gold Coast in the Spring?
Both Gold Coast 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, the spring months attract visitors to Gold Coast because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Penang is a little warmer than Gold Coast in the spring. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Gold Coast. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Gold Coastin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Gold Coast 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Gold Coast and Penang
| Penang | Gold Coast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.