Which place is cheaper, Penang or Turku?
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 Turku or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku 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: Turku or Penang?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
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 Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Turku Prices
Finland PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €159Penang €122
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, 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 Turku and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Penang €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Penang €94
Compare Hotels in Turku and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Turku 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: Turku Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Penang €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $80
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $80
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 Turku or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Turku 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 dayTurku €56Penang €55
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.Turku €22Penang €47
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Experience Turku with a local guide: $287
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 dayTurku €12Penang €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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Penang, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku is in Europe and Penang is in Asia, 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Penang?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku or Penang?
Turku 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 Turku or Penang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Turku as well as Penang. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
In the summer, Turku is much colder than Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Penang averages at about 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 Turku this time of the year. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Penang. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Penang. Turku usually gets less rain in July than Penang. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 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 JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Turku or Penang in the Autumn?
Both Penang and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Turku is generally much colder than Penang. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. In October, Turku usually receives less rain than Penang. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 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 OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Turku or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Turku during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
Turku can be very cold during winter. Turku is much colder than Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Turku usually gets less rain in January than Penang. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Turku or Penang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Penang. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Turku can be very cold. In the spring, Turku is much colder than Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Penang during spring. Turku gets 182 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, Turku usually receives less rain than Penang. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 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 AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Turku
| Turku | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 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.