Which place is cheaper, Paris 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 Paris?
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 Paris. 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 Paris?
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.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.
-
Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesParis Prices
France Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Paris $311
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Paris is $311. 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 Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Paris $180
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Paris $360
Compare Hotels in Penang and Paris
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Paris? 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 Paris Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Paris $25
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:
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $277
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- 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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro$7.51
-
Train from Airport$11
-
Metro tickets$7.98
-
Train$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer : Paris to the Palace of Versailles Round-Trip : $48
- One Way Private Transfer to Louvre Musuem: $89
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer for 1 to 3 Persons in Paris: $214
- Private Transfer from Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport: $92
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $292
- 1 Way Private Transfer from Your Paris Hotel to Versailles Palace: $94
- Airport Transfer Paris - Disneyland - Minivan 1-8 Passengers: $143
- Airport Transfer at Paris (Mercedes E), From/to Paris-CDG: $216
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Business Car: $112
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Luxury EQS: $165
- Airport transfer CDG - Paris | Driver Professional: $189
- Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $237
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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 $64Paris $85
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 Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream$9.39
-
Breakfast$8.21
-
Breakfast for 2$35
-
Dinner on River Cruise$101
-
Dinner$67
-
Cheese$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $65
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
- Paris Prestige Dinner Cruise from Eiffel Tower Area: $74
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $77
- Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $77
- Paris Food Tour: $82
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
- #1 Montmartre Pastries & Chocolate Food Tour with 6+ Tastings: $89
- Champagne & Oysters Paris Food Tour: $96
- Dinner Paris by Night EN Bus Panoramic: $101
- Amazing Sweet Crêpe Cooking Class Paris: $105
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Paris $89
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
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- All-Inclusive Penang George Town Private Tour: $154
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- 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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two$21
-
Admission to Pantheon$5.87
-
Catacombs (2)$27
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Paris Hidden Gems: Self Guided Secret Spots Tour: $0.57
- Paris Montmartre Free Walking Tour in English : $2.86
- Paris - Free Walking Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.56
- Paris - Latin Quarter Free Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.56
- Paris Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.57
- Rude Bastards Tour of Paris: $3.59
- Central Paris Highlights Walking Tour: $4.76
- Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.76
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Paris: $4.80
- Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.36
- Paris (Marais District) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $5.77
- Paris (Montmartre) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.77
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Paris $29
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 Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
-
Wine$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Original Paris Pub Crawl : $24
- Paris Nation wine tasting: $46
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $46
- Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $54
- Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $54
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $56
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $58
- Natural Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairings in Paris: $72
- French Wine Tasting and Pairing Experience in Montmartre: $90
- The only Paris Wine Tasting experience you need to do - 2 hours : $95
- Left Bank Gastronomy & Wine tour with a Culinary School : $113
- Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Paris, we can see that Paris 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 Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Paris?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Paris, 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 Paris?
Paris 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 Paris in the Summer?
Both Paris 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. Also, many travelers come to Paris for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Penang is a little warmer than Paris. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Paris averages at about 20°C (68°F).
In Paris, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets less sunshine than Paris. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 241 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Paris. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Paris receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Paris 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Penang or Paris in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Paris. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Also, many visitors come to Paris in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Penang is generally much warmer than Paris. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Paris fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Paris. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Paris 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Penang or Paris in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Paris. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Paris for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Paris can be very cold during winter. Penang is much warmer than Paris in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Paris fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Paris. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Paris 5°C (40°F)
Should I visit Penang or Paris in the Spring?
Both Paris and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Paris because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Penang is much warmer than Paris. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Paris averages at about 11°C (52°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Paris during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Paris. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Paris receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Paris 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Paris and Penang
| Penang | Paris | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.