Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
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 Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
-
Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Melbourne $119
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Penang and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Melbourne $20
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:
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $70
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
-
Airport Bus$10
-
Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers & Day Tours in a Chauffeur-Driven Luxury Van: $128
- Airport Transfers - Chauffeur Car & Limo Services of Melbourne: $101
- Airport to City Private Transfers : $128
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $168
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $178
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Luxury Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD : $85
- Luxury Private Airport Transfer Melbourne: $104
- MEL Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD Private Van Hire: $201
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $64Melbourne $53
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
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee$2.62
-
Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Melbourne $27
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
- 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 Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Melbourne $17
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 Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
-
Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne 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 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Penang as well as Melbourne. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the summer, Penang often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Penang or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Penang is much warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Penang or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne and Penang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Penang or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Melbourne during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Penang
| Penang | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.