A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Lombok for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Lombok?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Lombok? 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: Ao Nang or Lombok?

Ao Nang

If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.

Lombok

Lombok is an island east of the well-tread Bali and west of lesser-developed Sumbawa. While Lombok is not as popular as its neighbor to the west, it is a great place to visit for that very reason. Less popularity means lower prices for accommodations, food, activities, and less-inundated tourist spots. Nonetheless, Lombok is rapidly developing in tourism, and the government is naming it and Sumbawa the number two tourism spots, following Bali.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Ao Nang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $108, while the average daily cost in Lombok is $53. 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 Ao Nang and Lombok in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ao Nang $52
    Lombok $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ao Nang $104
    Lombok $58
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Lombok

Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Lombok? 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 Ao Nang


Hotels in Lombok


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: Lombok Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ao Nang $56
    Lombok $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang

Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $108
  • Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
  • Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $28
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $24
  • Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
  • Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
  • Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok

Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Service to Lombok Airport : $22
  • Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Wisata Alam Semongkat: $213
  • Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Lempeh: $94
  • Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Brang Biji: $94
  • Private Transfer from Sigar Penjalin to Lombok Airport (LOP): $51
  • Private Transfer from Senggigi to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Pengawisan to Lombok Airport (LOP): $51
  • Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Mangsit to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Lopok to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $153
  • Private Transfer from Lombok to Lombok International Airport: $39
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Sokong: $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Lombok?

Prices for flights to both Lombok and Ao Nang 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
    Ao Nang $25
    Lombok $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang

For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $40
  • Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $41
  • Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $47
  • Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $51
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $130

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok

For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Anggrek Putih Cooking Class & Garden Tour: $38
  • Love and Legends: The Ultimate Romantic Dinner on the beach : $47
  • Babah Peranakan Chinese Cuisine Dinner in Lombok: $60
  • Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
  • Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $100
  • Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $117

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ao Nang $11
    Lombok $11

Tours and Activities in Ao Nang

For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • ATV adventure 1hour drive: $44
  • ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
  • ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36
  • ATV adventure and shooting range: $58
  • Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $28
  • From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $33
  • From Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $47
  • From Private Gondola Cruise with Lunch and Picnic: $61
  • From Krabi: James Bond Island One-Day Tour by Speedboat: $126
  • James Bond Island: Sightseeing Tour by Longtail Boat & Kayak: $43
  • Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $33
  • Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $25

Tours and Activities in Lombok

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.

  • 2 Days Private Tetebatu and Rinjani Nature Tour in Lombok: $171
  • 3 Days Mount Rinjani Complete Tour @All In One Price: $226
  • Beach Tour in Lombok Indonesia: $51
  • Benang Kelambu & Stokel (Waterfall Tour) : $67
  • Benang Kelambu Waterfall And Culture Full Day Tour : $75
  • Best Lombok Rice Terrace Walking Tour With Waterfall & Monkey: $60
  • Best Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls Tour: $70
  • Car Hire Lombok tradition village tour: $150
  • Complete your Lombok Holiday with Lombok Instagram Tour: $50
  • Daily Sasak Tour Lombok: $57
  • Daily Tour: $70
  • Day Tour Sindang Gile and tiu Kelep Waterfals : $130

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ao Nang $15
    Lombok $8.31


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Lombok, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Lombok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lombok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lombok 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Lombok.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Lombok Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Lombok?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Lombok in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Lombok. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Lombok. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In July, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Lombok. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Lombok fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ao Nang 28°C (82°F) 
    Lombok 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Ao Nang or Lombok in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Lombok. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year.

Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Lombok. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in October than Lombok. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Lombok in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ao Nang 27°C (81°F) 
    Lombok 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Ao Nang or Lombok in the Winter?

Both Lombok and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March. In January, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Lombok. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Lombok during winter. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Lombok receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Lombok. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ao Nang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Lombok averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ao Nang 28°C (82°F) 
    Lombok 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Ao Nang or Lombok in the Spring?

Both Lombok and Ao Nang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in April than Lombok. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

In April, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Lombok. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 29°C (84°F), and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ao Nang 29°C (84°F) 
    Lombok 28°C (82°F)

Typical Weather for Lombok and Ao Nang

Ao Nang Lombok
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in) 27°C (81°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in) 28°C (82°F) 109 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 216 mm (8.5 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)


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