Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai 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 Pai 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: Pai or Tanah Rata?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, 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 dayPai $64Tanah Rata $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, 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 Pai and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Tanah Rata $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Tanah Rata $134
Compare Hotels in Pai and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Pai 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Tanah Rata $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
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 Pai or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Pai 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 dayPai $21Tanah 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.Pai $40Tanah Rata $34
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
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 dayPai $13Tanah Rata $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Pai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai 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 Pai or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
Both Tanah Rata and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai 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 Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Tanah Rata. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Pai is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Tanah Rata. Pai 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. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Tanah Rata. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Pai is cooler than Tanah Rata. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai 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 April, Pai usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Pai
| Pai | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.