Which place is cheaper, Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios. 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 Ocho Rios?
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.
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 PricesOcho Rios Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Ocho Rios $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Ocho Rios is $85. 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 Ocho Rios in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Ocho Rios $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Ocho Rios $102
Compare Hotels in Penang and Ocho Rios
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Ocho Rios? 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 Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Ocho Rios $7.32
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer [VIP LUXURY Vehicles]: $158
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Ocho Rios: $90
- ATV Tour Ocho Rios - Private Transfer Only (Activity Fee Excluded): $27
- Airport Transfer - From MBJ to Ocho Rios Hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer : $61
- Bahia Principe Grand and Luxury Airport Transfer: $80
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $117
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $67
- Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $300
- Grand Bahia Principe Hotel Airport Transfer: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Ocho Rios?
Prices for flights to both Ocho Rios 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 $64Ocho Rios $28
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $128
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Ocho Rios $15
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.27
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Private Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios Sightseeing and shopping : $30
- Luminous Lagoon Boat Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Blue Hole and Dunn's River Tour (Entrance Fees Not Included): $40
- Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Ocho Rios City Tour and Sightseeing: $49
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
- Dunn's River Falls and Ocho Rios Sightseeing with Shopping: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Ocho Rios $7.43
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 Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Ocho Rios, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Ocho Rios Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Ocho Rios?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Ocho Rios, 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 Ocho Rios?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Penang or Ocho Rios in the Summer?
Both Ocho Rios 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Ocho Rios. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets less sunshine than Ocho Rios. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ocho Rios receives 254 hours of full sun.
Penang is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios in the summer. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Ocho Rios fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Ocho Rios 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Penang or Ocho Rios in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Ocho Rios. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Penang is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Penang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Ocho Rios averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Ocho Rios 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Penang or Ocho Rios in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Ocho Rios. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Ocho Rios. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Ocho Rios. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Ocho Rios fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Ocho Rios 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Penang or Ocho Rios in the Spring?
Both Ocho Rios and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Ocho Rios. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Ocho Rios during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Ocho Rios receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
Penang is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios in the spring. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Ocho Rios fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Ocho Rios 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Ocho Rios and Penang
| Penang | Ocho Rios | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.