Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bali or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Tanah Rata can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bali or Tanah Rata?
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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 for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBali $73Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $73, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $137. 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 Bali and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBali $42Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBali $84Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Bali and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Bali 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: Bali Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bali $9.03Tanah Rata $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$3.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $103
- Bali DPS Airport Private Transfer from-to Nusa Dua: $23
- Bali DPS Airport Private Transfer from-to Uluwatu & South Kuta: $31
- Bali Gili Fast Boat Transfer Ticket All Inclusive: $51
- Bali Massage with Transfer to International Bali Airport (DPS): $58
- Bali Parasailing Adventure with Including Hotel Transfer: $45
- Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $59
- Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Bali Spa Treatment with Airport Transfers (Departure): $56
- Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $109
- Bali Tours 4U Airport and Seaport transfers. 24 hours a day.: $21
- Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Bali 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 dayBali $21Tanah Rata $44
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.24
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Lunch for Two$14
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Bali Cafe for Two$27
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Lunch for Two$8.07
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Lunch for 2$8.93
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Dinner for 2$9.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- The Balinesia Lu'au - 'A Kampung Bali Experience & Dinner Show': $28
- Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
- Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset in the Beach: $30
- Uluwatu Temple Kecak And Dinner Half Day Private Guided Tour: $30
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
- Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
- Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $33
- From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
- From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $35
- Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
- Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $45
- Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
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$5.66
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Dessert$0.63
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Lunch$3.98
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Afternoon tea$3.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bali $11Tanah Rata $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$54
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Snorkelling Trip$12
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Cooking School$28
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- Bali Water Sports Adventure: $7.89
- Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket: $8.97
- Private Tour to New Indonesia Urban Destination: $13
- Kecak and Fire Dance Ticket at Uluwatu Temple: $14
- Uluwatu Temple and Karang Boma Cliff Tour with Tickets: $15
- Best of Ubud Full Day Private Guided Tour: $19
- All-Inclusive White Water Rafting Adventure in Ubud: $19
- 1-Day Instant Entry Ticket to Waterbom Bali: $19
- Ubud: Monkey Forest, Rice Terraces, Temple & Waterfalls Tour: $19
- Bali Nusa Dua Theatre: Devdan Show Tickets: $19
- Ubud: Waterfall, Rice Terraces & Monkey Forest Private Tour: $20
- All Inclusive Bali Snorkeling Blue Lagoon tour experience : $20
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$5.66
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Tour of Orang Asli Village$21
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: $33
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Delight Tour: $61
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
- Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBali $3.20Tanah Rata $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Bali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bali or Tanah Rata?
Bali has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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 Bali or Tanah Rata?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Bali or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
April to September in Bali is the dry season. In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Bali is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bali in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBali 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bali or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bali as well as Tanah Rata. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
October to March in Bali is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Bali usually gets less rain in October than Tanah Rata. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Bali is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBali 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bali or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
Both Tanah Rata and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Bali is October to March. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. In January, Bali usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Bali is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the winter. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBali 26°C (79°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Bali or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Bali during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
April to September is the dry season in Bali. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bali usually gets less rain in April than Tanah Rata. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Bali is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bali in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBali 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Bali
| Bali | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.