Which place is cheaper, Penang or Saaremaa?
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 Saaremaa or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Penang, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Saaremaa or Penang?
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Saaremaa Prices
Estonia PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaaremaa €128Penang €122
The average daily cost (per person) in Saaremaa is €128, while the average daily cost in Penang is €122. 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 Saaremaa and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaaremaa €36Penang €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaaremaa €72Penang €94
Compare Hotels in Saaremaa and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Saaremaa or Penang? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saaremaa €47Penang €12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saaremaa
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Saaremaa:
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Rental Car and Gas for a Day€34
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€1.21
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Island Ferry€0.48
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Bus From Airport to George Town€0.54
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Taxi From Airport to George Town€9.28
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)€6.05
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)€2.02
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Saaremaa or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Saaremaa 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 daySaaremaa €63Penang €55
Typical Food Prices in Saaremaa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saaremaa:
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Salmon€1.28
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€1.61
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)€69
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)€58
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Lassy Juice€1.41
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Dinner for 2€3.03
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Street Stall Food€0.56
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€3.83
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Italian Lunch (for Two)€9.68
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saaremaa €21Penang €47
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€6.25
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)€6.05
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance€0.40
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance€2.02
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaaremaa €11Penang €15
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€1.61
When comparing the travel costs between Saaremaa and Penang, we can see that Saaremaa 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. Even though Saaremaa is in Europe and Penang is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Penang?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Penang, 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 Saaremaa or Penang?
Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa or Penang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Penang. Many travelers come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
Saaremaa is much colder than Penang in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Penang. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Penang. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in July than Penang. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaaremaa 17°C (62°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saaremaa or Penang in the Autumn?
Both Penang and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Saaremaa is much colder than Penang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. In October, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Penang. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaaremaa 8°C (47°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saaremaa or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
Saaremaa can be very cold during winter. In January, Saaremaa is generally much colder than Penang. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saaremaa usually gets less rain in January than Penang. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaaremaa -3°C (27°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saaremaa or Penang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Penang. The spring months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. Saaremaa is much colder than Penang in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Penang during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Penang. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Penang receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaaremaa 4°C (38°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Saaremaa
| Saaremaa | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | -3°C (26°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -1°C (30°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (38°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (47°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.