Which place is cheaper, El Nido or Lombok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lombok or El Nido?
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 El Nido. 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 El Nido?
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.
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $52El Nido $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $52, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $39. 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 El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $29El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $58El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Lombok and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or El Nido? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lombok Hotel Prices and El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11El Nido $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Service to Lombok Airport : $22
- Private Transfer from Wisata Alam Semongkat to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $209
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Brang Biji: $92
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Brang Bara: $92
- Private Transfer from Senggigi to Lombok Airport (LOP): $31
- Private Transfer from Pengawisan to Lombok Airport (LOP): $50
- Private Transfer from Lombok Island Hotels to Lombok Cruise Port: $33
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok Hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Sokong: $50
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Sigar Penjalin: $50
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Senggigi: $31
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mataram: $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido 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
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Food Meals for one dayLombok $12El Nido $12
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
- Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
- Amazing Lombok BBQ Beach Sunset Dinner: $86
- Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $100
- Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $10El Nido $5.38
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
- 2 Days Private Tetebatu and Rinjani Nature Tour in Lombok: $168
- 2D/1N (Hostel) Backpacker Lombok Tour Package: $205
- 3 Days Mount Rinjani Complete Tour @All In One Price: $222
- 3D 2N Mount Rinjani Trekking Tour To Summit And Lake: $185
- Beach Tour in Lombok Indonesia: $51
- Benang Kelambu & Stokel (Waterfall Tour) : $67
- Benang Kelambu Waterfall And Culture Full Day Tour : $75
- Best Lombok Rice Terrace Walking Tour With Waterfall & Monkey: $60
- Best Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls Tour: $70
- Car Hire Lombok tradition village tour: $150
- Complete your Lombok Holiday with Lombok Instagram Tour: $50
- Daily Sasak Tour Lombok: $57
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $43
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C; Hidden Beach: $32
- El Nido Island Tour A w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
- El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $30
- El Nido Island Tour C w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
- El Nido Island Tour D w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $33
- El Nido Nacpan Day Tour: $64
- El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch: $139
- El Nido Private Lagoon Tour - Tour A w/ Island Lunch: $142
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $8.15El Nido $8.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and El Nido, we can see that Lombok is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido 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 El Nido.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lombok Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.