Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
-
Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesWhitsundays Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Whitsundays $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Whitsundays $69
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Whitsundays? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $33Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Private Transfer Service Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur: $229
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
- Cameron Highland to Kuala Besut Jetty One Way SIC Transfer: $154
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $154
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $125
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
-
Food Meals for one dayTanah Rata $87Whitsundays $52
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:
-
Dinner for Two$6.42
-
Dessert$0.71
-
Lunch$4.52
-
Afternoon tea$4.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $39Whitsundays $25
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:
-
Tea Factory Visit$6.42
-
Tour of Orang Asli Village$24
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: $35
- 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 Join in Tour: $49
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands Private Sightseeing Tour : $211
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Tour: $61
- Cameron Highlands: Mossy Forest Tour: $30
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
- MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Whitsundays, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Whitsundays much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tanah Rata is in Asia and Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays.
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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In the summer, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
In October, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Whitsundays 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 more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Whitsundays. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the winter. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In the spring, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.