Which place is cheaper, Zagreb 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 Zagreb?
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 Zagreb. 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 Zagreb?
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.
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesZagreb Prices
Croatia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Zagreb $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Zagreb is $105. 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 Zagreb in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Zagreb $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Zagreb $114
Compare Hotels in Penang and Zagreb
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Zagreb? 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 Zagreb Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Zagreb $11
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:
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $275
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $36
- Penang Balik Pulau Countryside Morning Cycling with Transfers: $33
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang Island hotels to Swettenham Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- Airport Transfer: Zagreb to Zagreb Airport ZAG by Luxury Car: $118
- Airport Zagreb Transfer and Shuttle : $107
- Bratislava: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to BTS: $332
- Budapest: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to Budapest: $423
- CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Zagreb Airport ZAG / Zagreb City: $51
- CO2-Offset Departure Transfer from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport: $72
- From Sarajevo: 1-Way Transfer to Zagreb or opposite: $410
- From Split: Transfer to Zagreb with Stop at Plitvice Lakes: $163
- From Plitvice Lakes Round-Trip Comfort Bus Transfer: $17
- From Transfer to Split & Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $163
- Guided transfer from Zagreb to Split with Plitvice Lakes stop: $165
- Krka National Park Private Tour from Zagreb with transfer to Sibenik: $296
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Zagreb?
Prices for flights to both Zagreb 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 $64Zagreb $34
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 Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Food Tour with Tastings: $104
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $106
- Bite Back in Time: Zagreb's Food Tour Spiced with History : $131
- Zagreb Food Tour: Bite into Traditional Dishes and Flavors: $140
- Croatian cuisine cooking class with Dolac market tour: $155
- Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $161
- Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $184
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Zagreb $14
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:
- 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: $7.31
- 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
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- 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
- Georgetown Half Day City Tour: $42
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Searching for Love in Romantic Exploration Game and Tour: $5.95
- Nikola Tesla Technical Museum Ticket: $7.02
- Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships: $8.19
- Monuments to Modernism: An Audio Tour of the Zagreb Trade Fair: $8.99
- Cravaticum - Museum of The Cravat Entry Ticket: $9.36
- Chocolate Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
- VR 3D Immersive Film Experience - Voucher: $14
- City and WWII Tunnels Walking Tour: $18
- Zagreb Time Travel – Discover Zagreb with a fun interactive tablet city tour!: $18
- City & History Walking Tour & WW2 Tunnels: $18
- Jump into Walking Tour with local guide: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Zagreb $10
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 Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl, 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks, & Club Entry: $34
- Zagreb Pub Crawl 1Hour of Unlimited Drinks Club Entry: $35
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $35
- Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $106
- Hrastje Plešivičko Wine Tasting Day Trip: $176
- From Samobor Highlights & Wine Tasting in Plešivica: $183
- Castle & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $274
- Private Wine Tour from Two Local Wineries & Samobor : $285
- Fairytale Castle & Wine Tasting & Lunch: $286
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Zagreb, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Zagreb much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Zagreb 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 Zagreb would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagreb 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 Zagreb.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Zagreb Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Zagreb?
Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Zagreb, 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 Zagreb?
Zagreb 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 Zagreb in the Summer?
Both Zagreb and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zagreb this time of year.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Zagreb. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Zagreb during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Zagreb receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Zagreb. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Zagreb 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zagreb in the Autumn?
Both Zagreb and Penang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Zagreb for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Penang is much warmer than Zagreb in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Zagreb. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zagreb in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Zagreb. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Zagreb in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Zagreb can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Zagreb. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Zagreb averages at about 1°C (35°F).
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Zagreb. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Zagreb 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zagreb in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Penang as well as Zagreb. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Zagreb for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the spring, Penang often gets more sunshine than Zagreb. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zagreb receives 163 hours of full sun.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Zagreb. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Zagreb and Penang
| Penang | Zagreb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.