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

Should you visit Lombok or Benxi?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lombok and Benxi. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lombok or Benxi?

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.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Lombok?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $52, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $94. 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 Lombok and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lombok $29
    Benxi $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lombok $58
    Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Benxi? 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 Lombok


Hotels in Benxi


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.
    Lombok $11
    Benxi $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok

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

  • Transfer Service to Lombok Airport : $22
  • Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $23
  • Airport transfer from Lombok Airport to Kuta Mandalika : $23
  • Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $23
  • Airport Transfer: Airport To Kuta/kuta To Airport: $27
  • Lombok Airport Transfer : $27
  • Lombok to Lombok Int Airport (LOP) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mataram: $32
  • Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Mangsit to Lombok Airport (LOP): $32
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Dusun Kerandangan: $32
  • Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Senggigi: $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Lombok 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
    Lombok $12
    Benxi $30

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
  • Exquisite Dinner with Spectacular View at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $64
  • Traditional Cooking Class Experience With Recipes From The Past Generations: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lombok $10
    Benxi $7.29

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: $17
  • Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver : $31
  • Mataram Lombok Historical City tour: $49
  • Complete your Lombok Holiday with Lombok Instagram Tour: $50
  • Private Lombok Hidden Beach Tour: Elak Elak, Sekotong, and Mekaki Beach: $50
  • Beach Tour in Lombok Indonesia: $51
  • Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile Waterfall Trekking Tour: $55
  • Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall Tour - Private Day Tour: $55
  • One Day Tour Pink Beach East Lombok Excursion: $55
  • Lombok Sasak Culture Tour from Mataram: $59
  • Private Lombok Cycling Tour : Lingsar Temple, Rice Field, Village & Market Tour: $59
  • Best Lombok Rice Terrace Walking Tour With Waterfall & Monkey: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lombok $8.15
    Benxi $7.69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Lombok Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Lombok or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lombok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Lombok or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Lombok during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Lombok is around the same temperature as Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

Benxi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Benxi. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lombok 26°C (79°F) 
    Benxi 25°C (78°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Benxi in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round.

In the autumn, Lombok is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lombok in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Lombok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Lombok usually receives more rain than Benxi. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Benxi. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In January, Lombok is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Lombok often gets more sunshine than Benxi. Lombok gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun.

Lombok usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Benxi -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Lombok or Benxi in the Spring?

Both Benxi and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year.

Lombok is much warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In April, Lombok usually receives more rain than Benxi. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lombok 28°C (82°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Benxi and Lombok

Lombok Benxi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 97 mm (3.8 in) -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)
Aug 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 109 mm (4.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 216 mm (8.5 in) 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Dec 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)