Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide? 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: Tanah Rata or Adelaide?
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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $137Adelaide $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $109. 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 Tanah Rata and Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $67Adelaide $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $134Adelaide $130
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Adelaide
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Adelaide? 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 and Adelaide Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $29Adelaide $18
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
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Shuttle from the Train Station$3.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Adelaide Airport (ADL): Private Transfer to Adelaide Port: $252
- Adelaide Airport (ADL): Private Transfer to Adelaide hotels: $218
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car: $106
- Adelaide Airport(ADL)to Adelaide city - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Adelaide Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Adelaide: $57
- Adelaide Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Adelaide city: $252
- Adelaide Private Airport and City Transfer: $109
- Full-Day Private City Tour with Hotel Transfers: $490
- Arrival Private Transfers: Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide in Business Car: $62
- Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Luxury Van: $92
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide and Tanah Rata 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 dayTanah Rata $44Adelaide $31
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- HandleBar Bike Tour with Pub Stops & Dinner Option: $23
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $78
- Cooking classes Goolwa: $129
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $192
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa : $230
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $34Adelaide $13
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
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.00
- Queer Adelaide History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- River Torrens Popeye Sightseeing Cruise: $17
- Torrens River Cruise in Adelaide: $17
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Guided Tour: $18
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour: $19
- An exciting, Tree Top Adventure for Our Littlest Adventurers : $23
- River Torrens Popeye Devonshire Tea Cruise: $25
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Hills, Squares and Parklands: $27
- Adelaide Gaol Adults Ghost Tour & Investigation: $28
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Guide: $29
- Private Home Style Indian Dining Experience: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $19Adelaide $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- Private Pinot Noir Wine Tasting & Platter in Adelaide Hills: $30
- River Torrens Desserts And Wine Tour: $42
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $52
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $52
- Highlights, Hahndorf, & McLaren Vale Wine Tastings: $78
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $79
- The Barossa Valley Premium Wine Tour with Lunch: $110
- From Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $110
- Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $112
- Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $131
- Barossa Small Group Wine Tours - Local Guide: $131
- Adelaide Hills Full Day Wine Tour: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Adelaide, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Adelaide much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tanah Rata is in Asia and Adelaide is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Adelaide would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adelaide 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 Adelaide.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tanah Rata Expensive? and Is Adelaide Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Adelaide, 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 Tanah Rata or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tanah Rata experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Adelaide. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Adelaide for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Adelaide averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.
Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in July than Adelaidein January. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Adelaide 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide in the Autumn?
Both Adelaide and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Adelaide because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Adelaidein April. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Adelaide fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Adelaidein April. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Adelaide 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide in the Winter?
Both Adelaide and Tanah Rata during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Adelaide in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Adelaide fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Adelaidein July. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Adelaide 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Adelaide in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Adelaide. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Adelaide for the beaches.
In the spring, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Adelaide averages at about 16°C (61°F)in October.
Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Adelaidein October. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Adelaide 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Adelaide and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Adelaide | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 25 mm (1 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.