A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Deqin vs. Tanah Rata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin or Tanah Rata?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Deqin and Tanah Rata. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Deqin or Tanah Rata?

Deqin

Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Deqin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $158. 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 Deqin and Tanah Rata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $36
    Tanah Rata $77
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $72
    Tanah Rata $154
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Tanah Rata

Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Tanah Rata


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: Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Deqin $19
    Tanah Rata $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:

  • Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
  • Cameron Highland to Kuala Besut Jetty One Way SIC Transfer: $154
  • Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
  • Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
  • Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $124
  • Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
  • Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $156

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Tanah Rata?

Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Deqin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Deqin $16
    Tanah Rata $51

Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:


  • Dinner for Two
    $6.55
  • Dessert
    $0.73
  • Lunch
    $4.61
  • Afternoon tea
    $4.48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Tanah 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:


  • Tea Factory Visit
    $6.55
  • 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: $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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Tanah Rata $22


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Deqin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Deqin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Deqin 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 Deqin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.