Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Koh Tarutao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao 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: Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata?
Koh Tarutao
While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.
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 Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in 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 dayKoh Tarutao $98Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $98, 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 Koh Tarutao and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tarutao $50Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tarutao $100Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Koh Tarutao and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tarutao 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: Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Tarutao $34Tanah Rata $29
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
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Koh Tarutao 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 Tarutao $28Tanah Rata $44
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.Koh Tarutao $14Tanah Rata $34
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 dayKoh Tarutao $7.01Tanah Rata $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tarutao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tarutao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tarutao 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 Tarutao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Tarutao Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
Both Tanah Rata and Koh Tarutao during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tarutao. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in July than Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. Also, May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Tarutao in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao usually gets less rain in January than Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (80°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Tarutao 27°C (80°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao is November to April. The rainy season in Koh Tarutao is May and October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In April, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tarutao 29°C (85°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Koh Tarutao
| Koh Tarutao | 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.