Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Koh Lipe?
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 Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe and Tanah Rata can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata?
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
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 Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Koh Lipe Prices
Thailand PricesTanah Rata Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $120Tanah Rata $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $120, 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 Koh Lipe and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $50Tanah Rata $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $100Tanah Rata $152
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe 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: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $21Tanah Rata $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $80
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 Ipoh Hotel Transfer: $65
- 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: $125
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Koh Lipe 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 dayKoh Lipe $52Tanah 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.Koh Lipe $27Tanah Rata $39
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $25
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $27
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $29
- Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $78
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $127
- Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $131
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: Mossy Forest Tour: $30
- Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $35
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Join in Tour: $49
- Cameron Highlands: Agro 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
- Cameron Highlands Private Sightseeing Tour : $211
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $9.42Tanah Rata $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lipe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lipe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
Both Tanah Rata and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In July, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
Both Tanah Rata and Koh Lipe during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Koh Lipe. May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in October than Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe 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 April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. May to October in Koh Lipe is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Lipe usually gets less rain in April than Tanah Rata. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.