Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata?
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
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 Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kota Kinabalu.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, 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 Kota Kinabalu and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Tanah Rata $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
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 Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Kota Kinabalu 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 dayKota Kinabalu $15Tanah Rata $44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
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.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Tanah Rata $34
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Sunset Charter Cruise Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $69
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 dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Tanah Rata $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Tanah Rata. Kota Kinabalu 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. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Tanah Rata. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu 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 OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
Both Tanah Rata and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu 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. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Tanah Rata. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Kota Kinabalu during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in April than Tanah Rata. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Tanah Rata | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 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.