Which place is cheaper, Hofn 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 Hofn?
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 Hofn. 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 Hofn?
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.
Hofn
Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesHofn Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Hofn $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Hofn is $207. 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 Hofn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Hofn $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Hofn $226
Compare Hotels in Penang and Hofn
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Hofn? 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 Hofn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Hofn $31
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
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Hofn?
Prices for flights to both Hofn 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 $64Hofn $73
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
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Hofn $20
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
- 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
Tours and Activities in Hofn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.
- Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $157
- The Orignal Ice Cave Tour in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: $164
- Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
- Crystal Ice Cave Tour from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: $182
- Frozen Wonders : Small Group Ice Cave Tour: $200
- Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $203
- 3 Hours Blue Ice Experience in Vatnajokull : $214
- Sindri’s Ice Cave Photography Tour: A Local’s Perspective: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Hofn $13
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Hofn, we can see that Hofn 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 Hofn 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 Hofn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hofn 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 Hofn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Hofn?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Hofn, 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 Hofn?
Hofn 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 Hofn in the Summer?
Both Hofn 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.
In July, Penang is generally much warmer than Hofn. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Hofn fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Hofn. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Hofn 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Penang or Hofn in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Hofn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
The weather in Hofn can be very cold. Penang is much warmer than Hofn in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Hofn fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Hofn 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 Hofn. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Hofn 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Penang or Hofn in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Hofn. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Hofn in the winter. In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Hofn. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Hofn averages at about -0°C (31°F).
It's quite rainy in Hofn. Penang usually gets less rain in January than Hofn. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Hofn -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Penang or Hofn in the Spring?
Both Hofn and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hofn. In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Hofn. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Hofn fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Hofn. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Hofn 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Hofn and Penang
| Penang | Hofn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 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.