Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Lake Tekapo? 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.
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Lake Tekapo? 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:
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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:
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:
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tanah Rata is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.
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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Tanah Rata has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Lake Tekapo, 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.