Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Koh Samui 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.
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
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 Koh Samui is $56, 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 Koh Samui and Lombok in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
Also for Koh Samui, 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 Koh Samui 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
For Koh Samui, 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:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Lombok, we can see that Koh Samui 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samui 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.
Both Lombok and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In July, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Lombok. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Koh Samui is generally around the same temperature as Lombok. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Lombok fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Both Lombok and Koh Samui during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round.
December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui. Lombok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samui. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in October than Lombok. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Samui is cooler than Lombok in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Lombok. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. In January, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Lombok. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Koh Samui is cooler than Lombok. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samui in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Lombok averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Lombok. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year.
Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Lombok. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Lombok. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Koh Samui | Lombok | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |