Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan 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: Sandakan or Tanah Rata?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $67Tanah Rata $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $67, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $158. 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 Sandakan and Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Tanah Rata $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Tanah Rata $154
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $38Tanah Rata $34
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: $123
- Cameron Highland to Kuala Besut Jetty One Way SIC Transfer: $152
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $152
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $21Tanah Rata $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
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$6.55
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Dessert$0.73
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Lunch$4.61
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Afternoon tea$4.48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.31Tanah Rata $39
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Full-Day Highlights Tour: $70
- Orang Utan & Proboscis Monkey Tour: $78
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
- Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Tour | Sandakan: $152
- Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise with Lunch: $189
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $205
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$6.55
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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 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 daySandakan $7.62Tanah Rata $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Tanah Rata?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan 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 Sandakan 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 Sandakan or Tanah Rata in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Tanah Rata. Sandakan 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. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Tanah Rata. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Tanah Rata in the Winter?
Both Tanah Rata and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan 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 Sandakan. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Tanah Rata. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Tanah Rata in the Spring?
Both Tanah Rata and Sandakan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan 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 Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Tanah Rata. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Tanah Rata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.