Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai 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 Dubai and Tanah Rata can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Tanah Rata?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, 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 dayDubai $248Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, 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 Dubai and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Tanah Rata $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Banana Boat Ride Dubai With Transfer: $190
- Burj Al Arab Tour - Gold Cappuccino With Private Transfers: $147
- Dubai Frame & La Perle Dragon Dubai (Bronze) With Transfer: $210
- Dubai Maktoum DWC to Al Ain Private Limo-Van Transfer: $67
- Dubai Private Transfer to The Outlet Village: $92
- Jet Ski Adventure in Dubai with Optional Transfers: $109
- 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
- 1-Hour Quad Biking Tour with Transfer from Dubai: $61
- 12 Minute Helicopter Ride in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $255
- 2 Dives for Certified Divers in Fujairah with lunch & transfer: $167
- 2 Hour View at The Palm Ticket and One Way Monorail with Transfer: $65
- 20 Minute Jet Car Ride Near Burj Al Arab with Optional Transfers: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- 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 One-way Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Tanah Rata $44
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek: $19
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.Dubai $19Tanah Rata $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.49
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Ticket to Muséum of the futuré: $5.30
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.34
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.22
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.62
- Old Town Walking Tour with Souks, Abra Ride & Snacks: $8.00
- Old Walking tour with Boat ride, Souks and Museums: $8.17
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
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 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 Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Delight Tour: $61
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Tanah Rata $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Tanah Rata, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Tanah Rata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tanah Rata 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Tanah Rata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Tanah Rata?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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 Dubai 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 Dubai or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Tanah Rata. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
Also, June to August in Dubai is the dry season. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Tanah Rata. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's very hot in Dubai this time of the year. Dubai is a little warmer than Tanah Rata in the summer. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
Both Tanah Rata and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai 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. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Dubai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dubai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
Both Tanah Rata and Dubai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
January to March is the rainy season in Dubai. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Tanah Rata. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Dubai is generally cooler than Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 19°C (66°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
June to August in Dubai is the dry season. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Dubai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the spring. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Dubai
| Dubai | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 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.