Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tanah Rata or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao?
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.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $137Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $67Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $134Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $29Koh Tao $8.67
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
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- 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 One-way Transfer: $92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $44Koh Tao $9.21
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $34Koh Tao $26
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $19Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Koh Tao, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao.
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 Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Koh Tao?
Tanah Rata has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Koh Tao, 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 Koh Tao?
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 Tanah Rata or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Tanah Rata during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao. Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Koh Tao. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the winter. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Koh Tao. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.