Comparison · Penang vs Singapore · Malaysia / Singapore
Penang vs Singapore
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Penang for Hawker food, George Town heritage and lower day-to-day costs; choose Singapore for Hawker centres and Gardens by the Bay. Penang is generally less expensive, and the two are about 603 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 603 km
- Less expensive
- Penang
- Best time for Penang
- December–March
- Best time for Singapore
- February–April and July–August
Side by side
| Penang | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Singapore |
| Known for | Hawker food, George Town heritage and Street art | Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands |
| Best time to visit | December–March | February–April and July–August |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$160 | $160–$300 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Expensive |
| Warmest month | January, 32°C (90°F) | March, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 31°C (88°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | Batu Ferringhi | Palawan Beach |
| Airports | PEN | SIN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Penang for…
Hawker food, George Town heritage and lower day-to-day costs. Penang is a Malaysian state made up of Penang Island and a strip of mainland, joined by two road bridges. Most visitors stay on the island in George Town, a former British trading port founded in 1786 whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site of…
Choose Singapore for…
Hawker centres and Gardens by the Bay. Singapore fits Marina Bay's skyline, the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, a UNESCO-listed botanic garden and the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan quarters of the old town into an island about 50 km across. The MRT links almost everything within 40…
Top sights compared
| # | Penang | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khoo Kongsi | Gardens by the Bay |
| 2 | Kek Lok Si Temple | Marina Bay Sands SkyPark |
| 3 | Penang Hill | Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade |
| 4 | Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) | Singapore Botanic Gardens |
| 5 | Pinang Peranakan Mansion | Buddha Tooth Relic Temple |
Food compared
| Penang | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Char kway teow | Hainanese chicken rice |
| Penang asam laksa | Laksa |
| Hokkien mee | Chilli crab |
| Nasi kandar | Char kway teow |
Which is cheaper?
Penang is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$160 per person there, against $160–$300 in Singapore (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Penang on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Penang and Singapore are about 603 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Penang and 4 in Singapore.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Penang or Singapore cheaper?
Penang is usually less expensive: about $80–$160 a day mid-range against $160–$300 (estimates).
+Is Penang or Singapore better for a first trip?
Pick Penang for Hawker food, George Town heritage and lower day-to-day costs, or Singapore for Hawker centres and Gardens by the Bay.
+How far is Penang from Singapore?
About 603 km in a straight line.