Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Lombok?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Koh Tarutao and Lombok. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Koh Tarutao
While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Lombok or Koh Tarutao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $84, while the average daily cost in Lombok is $46. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Koh Tarutao and Lombok in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Koh Tarutao, $84 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Koh Tarutao, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $42, such as in a hostel.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Lombok, $52 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Lombok, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $26, such as in a hostel.
Local Transportation
Koh Tarutao's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $29 per person, per day on transportation in Koh Tarutao.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Lombok than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $9.92 on transportation in Lombok on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private airport transfer-Lombok International Airport to Hotel:
$43
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tarutao or Lombok?
Prices for flights to both Lombok and Koh Tarutao 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
In Koh Tarutao travelers spend around $24 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about $11 per day in Lombok for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Koh Tarutao $24
Lombok $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok
For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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3 Hour Cooking Class Experiences and Lunch at Anggrek Putih Eco Resort in Lombok:
$32
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Koh Tarutao can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $12 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Lombok, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $9.15 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
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2-Day Mt Rinjani Volcano Trekking Tour from Lombok:
$285
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2-Night Mt Rinjani Beginner Trekking Tour from Lombok:
$260
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3-Day Mt Rinjani Volcano Trekking Tour from Lombok:
$310
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4-Day Mt. Rinjani Volcano Trekking Tour on Lombok:
$385
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Full Day Gili Sudak and Cycling Tour:
$159
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6-Hour City and Countryside Biking Tour:
$65
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Master Fishing Day Cruise:
$119
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North Sendang Gile Waterfall & Senaru Village Tour:
$67
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Pengsong Temple Biking Tour:
$55
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Private Full-Day Gili Nanggu Tour from Lombok:
$100
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Private Tour: Amazing Waterfalls of Lombok:
$135
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Private Tour: Full-day Sasak Tour and Horse Cart Riding:
$90
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Koh Tarutao spend on average $6.01 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Lombok, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.24.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Lombok, we can see that Koh Tarutao 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 Koh Tarutao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tarutao than you might in Lombok.
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