Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Zhangjiajie $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie? 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 $33Zhangjiajie $15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $87Zhangjiajie $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $39Zhangjiajie $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$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 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 Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 4 Days and 3 Nights Private Tour: $50
- Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 5 Days and 4 Nights Private Tour: $50
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie.
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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 July, Tanah Rata is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Zhangjiajie. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the winter. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 April, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives around the same amount of rain as Zhangjiajie. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.