A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nakhon Ratchasima vs. Tanah Rata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata?

Nakhon Ratchasima

If you're planning on traveling from Bangkok to Isaan, you'll likely make Nakhon Ratchasima your pit stop or home base. However, there is so much more to this sprawling metropolis than just a layover. Underneath the chaos of it all, is a charming and traditional Thai city.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Nakhon Ratchasima?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Nakhon Ratchasima Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Tanah Rata Prices
    Malaysia Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $58
    Tanah Rata $192

The average daily cost (per person) in Nakhon Ratchasima is $58, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $192. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima and Tanah Rata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nakhon Ratchasima $22
    Tanah Rata $76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nakhon Ratchasima $44
    Tanah Rata $152
Compare Hotels in Nakhon Ratchasima and Tanah Rata

Looking for a hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata? 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.

Hotels in Nakhon Ratchasima


Hotels in Tanah Rata


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: Nakhon Ratchasima Hotel Prices and Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $5.19
    Tanah Rata $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nakhon Ratchasima

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nakhon Ratchasima:


  • Tuk Tuk
    $1.57
  • Bus to Vientiane
    $1.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:

  • Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $154
  • Private Transfer Service Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur: $229
  • Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
  • Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $125
  • CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
  • Cameron Highlands to Ipoh Hotel Transfer: $65
  • Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
  • Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94

Is it cheaper to fly into Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata?

Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata and Nakhon Ratchasima 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 day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $30
    Tanah Rata $87

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $6.68
    Tanah Rata $39

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $12
    Tanah Rata $21


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nakhon Ratchasima and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Nakhon Ratchasima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nakhon Ratchasima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nakhon Ratchasima Expensive? and Is Tanah Rata Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata?

Tanah Rata has a larger population, and is about 7000 times larger than the population of Nakhon Ratchasima. When comparing the sizes of Nakhon Ratchasima and Tanah Rata, 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 Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata in the Summer?

Both Tanah Rata and Nakhon Ratchasima during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nakhon Ratchasima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nakhon Ratchasima. Nakhon Ratchasima usually gets more rain in July than Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Nakhon Ratchasima is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nakhon Ratchasima 30°C (86°F) 
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nakhon Ratchasima and Tanah Rata. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nakhon Ratchasima year-round. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nakhon Ratchasima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nakhon Ratchasima usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In October, Nakhon Ratchasima is generally around the same temperature as Tanah Rata. Daily temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima average around 28°C (82°F), and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nakhon Ratchasima 28°C (82°F) 
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nakhon Ratchasima as well as Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima usually gets less rain in January than Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Nakhon Ratchasima is around the same temperature as Tanah Rata in the winter. The daily temperature in Nakhon Ratchasima averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Tanah Rata fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nakhon Ratchasima 25°C (77°F) 
    Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Tanah Rata in the Spring?

Both Tanah Rata and Nakhon Ratchasima are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nakhon Ratchasima throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. In April, Nakhon Ratchasima usually receives less rain than Tanah Rata. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Tanah Rata receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The heat can be very extreme in Nakhon Ratchasima. In the spring, Nakhon Ratchasima is a little warmer than Tanah Rata. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima in April average around 31°C (89°F), and Tanah Rata averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nakhon Ratchasima 31°C (89°F) 
    Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F)

Typical Weather for Tanah Rata and Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima Tanah Rata
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 30°C (86°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 31°C (89°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 152 mm (6 in) 28°C (83°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Jun 30°C (87°F) 105 mm (4.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 30°C (85°F) 128 mm (5 in) 28°C (82°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 173 mm (6.8 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 152 mm (6 in) 27°C (81°F) 237 mm (9.3 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 270 mm (10.6 in)
Dec 24°C (76°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 158 mm (6.2 in)


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