Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Tanah Rata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Railay 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.
Where Should I go: Tanah Rata or Railay Beach?
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.
Railay Beach
If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $137Railay Beach $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $105. 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 Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $67Railay Beach $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $134Railay Beach $126
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Railay 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $29Railay Beach $25
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 Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTanah Rata $44Railay Beach $22
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 Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.46
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Pizza$4.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $34Railay Beach $23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)$19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $19Railay Beach $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Railay Beach, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Railay Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Railay Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach.
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 Railay Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Railay Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach. Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Railay Beach. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. August to October in Railay Beach is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in October than Railay Beach. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Tanah Rata is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach in the Winter?
Both Railay 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. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Railay Beach is December to March. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In January, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Railay Beach in the Spring?
Both Railay 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.
Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in April than Railay Beach. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.