Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Tanah Rata Prices
Malaysia PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTanah Rata $192Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $192, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTanah Rata $76Melbourne $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTanah Rata $152Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tanah Rata $33Melbourne $20
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers & Day Tours in a Chauffeur-Driven Luxury Van: $128
- Airport Transfers - Chauffeur Car & Limo Services of Melbourne: $101
- Airport to City Private Transfers : $128
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $168
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $178
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Luxury Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD : $85
- Luxury Private Airport Transfer Melbourne: $104
- MEL Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD Private Van Hire: $201
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $87Melbourne $53
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 Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tanah Rata $39Melbourne $27
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 Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTanah Rata $21Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129
When comparing the travel costs between Tanah Rata and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Tanah Rata is in Asia and Melbourne is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tanah Rata or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 530 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Tanah Rata and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Melbourne. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In July, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Tanah Rata is much warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTanah Rata 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne and Tanah Rata during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTanah Rata 27°C (80°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Tanah Rata or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Tanah Rata is generally much warmer than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTanah Rata 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Tanah Rata
| Tanah Rata | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.