Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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 Nadi (Port Denarau). 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesNadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Nadi (Port Denarau) $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Penang and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81
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:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- 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
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Shared Shuttle Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport/ Port to Hotel: $9.15
- Arrival Shared Transfer : Airport to Hotel: $35
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to All Denarau Hotels: $14
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Intercontinental Resort: $34
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Port Denarau Marina: $15
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Shangri-La Fijian Resort: $37
- CFC APPROVED Private Departure Transfer - Fiji Marriott Resort, to Nadi Airport: $30
- CFC APPROVED Private Roundtrip Transfer -Nadi Airport to All Maui Bay Properties: $71
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Doubletree Resort : $23
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Fiji Marriott Resort: $27
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Maui Bay Properties: $44
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Outrigger & Bedarra Inn: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $64Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
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:
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- 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: $7.32
- 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
- Malaysia: Discover Nature's Wonders with Entopia Entry Ticket: $17
- 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
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- Nadi Sightseeing Including Viseisei Lookout, Village Tour, Garden & Temple Tour: $70
- Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool Tour: $73
- Shore Excursion-Wonders of Nadi Sightseeing Tour-Temple,Gardens,Markets&Shopping: $77
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Nadi Therapeutic Mud Pools and Garden Tour - Shore Excursions EX PORT DENARAU: $82
- Nadi Heritage Tour : $82
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Fiji Lautoka Shore Excursions Tour : $92
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Nadi Sightseeing & Mud Pool Tour - Ex Fiji Marriott, Momi Bay: $100
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
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 Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Penang and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.
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.