Which place is cheaper, Hongcun 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 Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Hongcun? 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 Hongcun?
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.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesHongcun Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Hongcun $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $67. 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 Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Hongcun? 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 $33Hongcun $12
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 Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun 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 $87Hongcun $33
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
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.91
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.10
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $39Hongcun $17
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Hongcun $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Hongcun, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Hongcun.
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 Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Tanah Rata or Hongcun?
Hongcun 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 Hongcun in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.
Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Hongcun in the summer. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Hongcun in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Hongcun. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tanah Rata in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Hongcun averages at about 19°C (65°F).
Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in October than Hongcun. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Hongcun in the Winter?
Both Hongcun 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.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. In January, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (80°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In January, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Hongcun in the Spring?
Both Hongcun 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.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Hongcun in the spring. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Hongcun 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 around the same amount of rain in April as Hongcun. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.