Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Airlie Beach? 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.
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.
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Airlie Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Airlie Beach? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Tanah Rata for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
When comparing the travel costs between Tanah Rata and Airlie Beach, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Tanah Rata is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Airlie Beach Expensive?.
Airlie Beach has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tanah Rata experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Airlie Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Airlie Beach. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In October, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Airlie Beach and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In January, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Airlie Beach and Tanah Rata during the spring 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, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Tanah Rata | Airlie Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |