Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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.
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
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?.
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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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) |