Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Ao Nang?
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 Ao Nang or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Tanah Rata? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Tanah Rata?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Tanah Rata
Tanah Rata is one of the main tourist towns in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are in western Malaysia and are a popular retreat for Malaysian residents and international travelers alike. The area's higher elevation offers an often much needed break from the country's oppressive heat. It also has a beautiful setting that is rich in agriculture and has rolling hills that are beautifully covered in tea plantations. Tanah Rata has many of the area's tourist amenities. ATMS, banks, and the area's main hospital are all found in town. For some, the area feels too touristy, but if you linger longer, and explore on your own, you can easily escape the mass tourism and see the area for what it is.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesTanah Rata Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $136Tanah Rata $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $136, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $192. 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 Ao Nang and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Tanah Rata $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Tanah Rata $152
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Tanah Rata? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $64Tanah Rata $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi: Ao Nang To or From Phi Phi By Fast Speedboat Transfer: $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $155
- Private Transfer Service Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur: $229
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $125
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- Cameron Highlands to Ipoh Hotel Transfer: $65
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $49Tanah Rata $87
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:
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Dinner for Two$6.42
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Dessert$0.71
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Lunch$4.52
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Afternoon tea$4.40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $13Tanah Rata $39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tanah Rata
Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tea Factory Visit$6.42
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Tour of Orang Asli Village$24
Tours and Activities in Tanah Rata
Here are a few actual costs in Tanah Rata for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $35
- Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Join in Tour: $49
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands Private Sightseeing Tour : $211
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Tour: $61
- Cameron Highlands: Mossy Forest Tour: $30
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Tanah Rata $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Ao Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ao Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ao Nang 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 Tanah Rata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tanah Rata than you might in Ao Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Tanah Rata?
Ao Nang has a larger population, and is about 14% larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Tanah Rata, 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 Ao Nang or Tanah Rata?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
Both Tanah Rata and Ao Nang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Tanah Rata. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the summer. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ao Nang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAo Nang 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Tanah Rata. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Tanah Rata. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In April, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the spring. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAo Nang 29°C (84°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Ao Nang
| Ao Nang | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 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.