Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tanah Rata or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $137Katoomba $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $134. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $67Katoomba $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $134Katoomba $154
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $29Katoomba $50
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 Tanah Rata or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $44Katoomba $17
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.Tanah Rata $34Katoomba $53
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
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $32
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $37
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $83
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $97
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $98
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $107
- Small-Group Blue Mountains Tour with Bush Walks and Featherdale Wildlife Park: $116
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $129
- Truffle Hunt and Taste Experience in Oberon, NSW Australia: $146
- Private Blue Mountains Rainforest and Waterfalls SUV Tour: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $19Katoomba -
When comparing the travel costs between Tanah Rata and Katoomba, 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Katoomba?
Katoomba has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?
Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba averages at about 24°C (74°F)in January.
Katoomba receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Katoombain January. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Katoomba 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Katoomba in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Katoomba. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.
In October, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Katoombain April. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in October than Katoombain April. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Katoomba 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Katoomba in the Winter?
Both Katoomba 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 Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Katoomba in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Katoomba fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In January, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Katoomba 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Katoomba in the Spring?
Both Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Katoomba averages at about 18°C (64°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in April than Katoombain October. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Katoomba 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Katoomba and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Katoomba | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 70 mm (2.8 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.