Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Hat Yai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hat Yai or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Tanah Rata can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hat Yai or Tanah Rata?
Hat Yai
The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.
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 Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, 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 dayHat Yai $16Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Hat Yai is $16, 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 Hat Yai and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHat Yai $5.11Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHat Yai $10Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Hat Yai and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Hat Yai 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: Hat Yai Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hat Yai $0.63Tanah Rata $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:
- Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $69
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $73
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $73
- Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25
- private van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pabara Pier: $68
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 Hat Yai or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Hat Yai 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 dayHat Yai $10Tanah Rata $44
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:
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Roti Snack$0.55
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.Hat Yai -Tanah Rata $34
Tours and Activities in Hat Yai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hat Yai are as follows:
- One Way Speedboat and Van Ticket Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport: $30
- One Way Van and Speedboat Ticket Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe: $30
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 dayHat Yai $2.52Tanah Rata $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Tanah Rata?
Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHat Yai 29°C (83°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Tanah Rata. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
May to December in Hat Yai is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in October than Tanah Rata. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
Both Tanah Rata and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Hat Yai is January to April. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. In January, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Hat Yai is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Hat Yai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai 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 April is the dry season in Hat Yai. May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in April than Tanah Rata. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHat Yai 30°C (85°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Hat Yai
| Hat Yai | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 30°C (85°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 588 mm (23.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 404 mm (15.9 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.