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

Should you visit Bagan or Lombok?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Lombok can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bagan or Lombok?

Bagan

Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

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 Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Bagan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Lombok is $56. 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 Bagan and Lombok in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bagan $7.36
    Lombok $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bagan $15
    Lombok $52
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Lombok

Looking for a hotel in Bagan 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 Bagan


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bagan $3.57
    Lombok $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:

  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok

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

  • Airport transfer from Lombok Airport to Selong Belanak: $33
  • Airport transfer from Lombok airport to Sembalun Rinjiani area: $60
  • Airport transfer from lombok Airport to Praya: $22
  • Bangsal Port Transfer: $9.45
  • Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Padang Bai: $114
  • Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Serangan: $73
  • Fast Transfer by Private Speedboat&Car (Gili → Kuta Lombok): $81
  • Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $29
  • Kuta Lombok Transfer: $9.45
  • Lombok Airport to Hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $49
  • Lombok Private Transfer from or to Airports & Hotel/Ports: $17
  • Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Lombok?

Prices for flights to both Lombok and Bagan 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
    Bagan $10
    Lombok $19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok

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

  • Gili Trawangan: Authentic Indonesian Food Gili Cooking Class: $44
  • Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $55
  • Traditional Cooking Class Experience With Recipes From The Past Generations: $70
  • Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bagan $57
    Lombok $9.38

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Acient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $149
  • Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
  • Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
  • Bagan Cycling Tour ( Villages & Temples Cycling Explorer): $129
  • Bagan Fullday Sightseeing by Car and Horse-cart: $184
  • Bagan Horse Cart Ride Tour with Puppet Show: $170
  • Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
  • Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
  • Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
  • Excellent Private Guided Tour Around Bagan With Lunch: $88
  • Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
  • Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk: $72

Tours and Activities in Lombok

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

  • Gili T Island: The Thrilling Sunset Snorkeling Adventure: $16
  • Gili Air : Shared Tour with Sea Turtles & Underwater Statues: $18
  • Lombok Wildlife Park: Admission Ticket: $20
  • Lombok Waterfalls & Sukarara Weaving Village Tour: $22
  • Tetebatu Walking Tour: $23
  • Sendang Gile Waterfall, Malimbu, & Pusuk Pass Panorama Tour: $33
  • Sasak Villages, Beaches, and Merese Hill Tour: $35
  • Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver: $36
  • Lombok Group Tour | Hidden Gili Islands Snorkeling & Island Hop: $40
  • Lombok Biking Tour: $41
  • Exclusive Private Lombok Car Hire & Customized Tour: $43
  • Lombok Wildlife Park: Elephant Observation Experience: $43

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bagan -
    Lombok $7.42


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

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