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

Should you visit Lombok or Kao-hsiung?

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 Kao-hsiung. 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 Kao-hsiung?

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.

Kao-hsiung

Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan.


Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung is $102. 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 Kao-hsiung in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lombok $29
    Kao-hsiung $56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lombok $58
    Kao-hsiung $112
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Kao-hsiung

Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Kao-hsiung? 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 Kao-hsiung


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 Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lombok $11
    Kao-hsiung $11

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:

  • Explore Kaohsiung - 8 Hours Private Transfers - Best of Kaohsiung Sites: $179
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Taitung Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $152
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port: $79
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $79
  • Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $71
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $71
  • Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $49
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $49
  • Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung City Transfer: $41
  • Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Kao-hsiung?

Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung 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
    Kao-hsiung $32

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
    Kao-hsiung $20

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

Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:

  • 1 day tour - Kaohsiung: $160
  • Day Tour to Qigu Salt Mountain, Chikan Tower and Anping Castle : $87
  • Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
  • Half-day tour Kaohsiung: $103
  • Kaohsiung /Pingtung Day Tour : $150
  • Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
  • Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $150
  • Kaohsiung Walking Day Tour: $130
  • Kaohsiung: Experience the Riverside : $159
  • Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $75
  • Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $100
  • Private Tour Alishan Culture and Ecology from Kaohsiung: $156

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lombok $8.15
    Kao-hsiung $10


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