Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Lombok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lombok or Ponce?
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 Ponce. 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.
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Lombok Prices
Indonesia PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $55Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $55, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $26Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $52Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Ponce? 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: Ponce Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $10Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lombok Airport Transfer: $9.27
- Kuta Lombok Transfer: $9.99
- Airport transfer from lombok Airport to Praya: $22
- Lombok to Lombok Int Airport (LOP) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Lombok Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok Airport (LOP): $26
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Lombok Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Koeta: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok island hotels: $28
- Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Batu Payung: $29
- Private Transfer from Batu Payung to Lombok Airport (LOP): $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $19Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok
For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lombok Cooking Class by Mas Oppa: $19
- Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $52
- Exquisite Dinner with Spectacular View at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $64
- Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $9.25Ponce $56
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 Waterfalls & Sukarara Weaving Village Tour: $22
- Tetebatu Walking Tour: $23
- Lombok Rafting Adventure Unforgettable Thrills with Lunch: $29
- Sendang Gile Waterfall, Malimbu, & Pusuk Pass Panorama Tour: $33
- Lombok Sasak Culture and Village Tour: $34
- Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver: $36
- Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis Snorkeling Tour and Island Hopping: $40
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok Customize Tour: $45
- Gili Nanggu Snorkeling Tour to a Tropical Paradise: $49
- Lombok City Tour combination With Temple Tour: $49
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
- Bioluminescent Bay Boat Tour Transport Snack and Snorkeling: $250
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Cave, Bats and Boas Night Tour - Puerto Rico: $160
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $7.32Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Lombok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lombok is in Asia and Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lombok or Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Lombok or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
May to September is the dry season in Lombok. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Lombok is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLombok 26°C (79°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, November to April is the rainy season in Lombok. Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Lombok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Lombok usually receives less rain than Ponce. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Lombok is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lombok in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLombok 28°C (82°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Ponce. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Lombok usually gets more rain in January than Ponce. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the winter, Lombok often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Lombok gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
In January, Lombok is generally a little warmer than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLombok 28°C (82°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Lombok is May to September. The rainy season in Lombok is November to April. In April, Lombok usually receives more rain than Ponce. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Lombok is around the same temperature as Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLombok 28°C (82°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Lombok
| Lombok | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
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.