Which place is cheaper, Yakushima 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.
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Should you visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima? 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 Yakushima?
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.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $141. 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 Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Yakushima? 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 Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $33Yakushima $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Cameron Highlands to Ipoh Hotel Transfer: $65
- 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: $125
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Cameron Highland to Kuala Besut Jetty One Way SIC Transfer: $154
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $154
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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 $87Yakushima $50
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$6.42
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Dessert$0.71
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Lunch$4.52
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Afternoon tea$4.40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $39Yakushima $21
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$6.42
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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: Mossy Forest Tour: $30
- Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $35
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Join in Tour: $49
- Cameron Highlands: Agro 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
- Cameron Highlands Private Sightseeing Tour : $211
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Tours and Activities in Yakushima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:
- Private Guided Tour: $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Yakushima $6.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Yakushima, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yakushima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yakushima 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 Yakushima.
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 Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima?
Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
In July, Tanah Rata is generally around the same temperature as Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Yakushima. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima in the Winter?
Both Yakushima 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.
In the winter, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In January, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima 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.
In April, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Yakushima 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 less rain in April than Yakushima. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 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.