A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Penang vs. La Ceiba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Penang or La Ceiba?

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 La Ceiba. 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 La Ceiba?

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.

La Ceiba

La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.

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 Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, La Ceiba or Penang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in La Ceiba is $74. 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 La Ceiba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Penang $55
    La Ceiba $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Penang $110
    La Ceiba $44
Compare Hotels in Penang and La Ceiba

Looking for a hotel in Penang or La Ceiba? 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.

Hotels in Penang


Hotels in La Ceiba


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 La Ceiba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Penang $14
    La Ceiba $30
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:

  • Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
  • Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
  • Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $19
  • Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
  • Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
  • Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
  • Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
  • Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
  • Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
  • Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:

  • Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43
  • From Copan: One Way Shared Transfer to La Ceiba: $29
  • From Roatan: One Way Shared transfer to La Ceiba: $49
  • Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $180
  • Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or La Ceiba?

Prices for flights to both La Ceiba 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 day
    Penang $64
    La Ceiba $30
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Penang $55
    La Ceiba $21
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:

  • Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
  • Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.92
  • Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket: $7.31
  • Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
  • Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
  • The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
  • Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
  • Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Penang Rainbow Skywalk at The Top Komtar Observation Deck Tickets: $22
  • Entopia Butterfly and Nature Discovery Park Entry Ticket Penang : $28
  • Half-Day Penang Countryside Cycling Tour: $32
  • Georgetown Half Day City Tour: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Penang $18
    La Ceiba $4.85
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:


  • Beer
    $1.90


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and La Ceiba, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is La Ceiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and La Ceiba is in Central America, 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 La Ceiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Ceiba 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 La Ceiba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is La Ceiba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Penang or La Ceiba?

Penang has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of La Ceiba. When comparing the sizes of Penang and La Ceiba, 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.