Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang. 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 Pyeongchang?
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.
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesPyeongchang Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Pyeongchang $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $133. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Pyeongchang $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Pyeongchang $122
Compare Hotels in Penang and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Pyeongchang $24
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:
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- 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 : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $207
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $64Pyeongchang $47
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.
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Pyeongchang $50
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: $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
Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang
For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78
- Alpensia 2D1N Ski Lift Tour: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Pyeongchang $8.69
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 comparing the travel costs between Penang and Pyeongchang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Pyeongchang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Penang or Pyeongchang?
Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Penang as well as Pyeongchang. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Penang is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the summer, Penang often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Pyeongchang. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Penang or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
Both Pyeongchang and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
In October, Penang is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. It's quite rainy in Penang. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Penang or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
Both Pyeongchang 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.
It's quite cold in Pyeongchang in the winter. Penang is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Pyeongchang. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Penang or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Pyeongchang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
In the spring, Penang is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 204 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 Pyeongchang. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Penang
| Penang | Pyeongchang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 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.