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

Should you visit Lombok or Quito?

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 Quito. 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 Quito?

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.

Quito

Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.

Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.

Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.

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


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Lombok?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $55, while the average daily cost in Quito is $66. 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 Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lombok $26
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lombok $52
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Quito? 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 Quito


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: Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lombok $10
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok

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

  • Airport transfer from lombok Airport to Praya: $22
  • Bangsal Port Transfer: $10
  • Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Padang Bai: $114
  • Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Serangan: $73
  • Fast Transfer by Private Speedboat&Car (Gili → Kuta Lombok): $81
  • Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $29
  • Hotel Transfer at Lombok: $34
  • Lombok Airport Transfer: $34
  • Lombok Airport Transfer: $9.35
  • Lombok Airport to Hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $49
  • Lombok Private Transfer from or to Airports & Hotel/Ports: $17
  • 6, or 8-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $370

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
  • Private Transfer: Quito Airport (UIO) to Baños de Agua Santa: $160
  • Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $137
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
  • Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
  • Middle of the World Tour with Airport Transfer: $114
  • Airport Transfer and City Highlights Tour: $114
  • Transfer to Mashpi Amagusa Reserve one way: $109
  • Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
  • Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
  • Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito 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 $19
    Quito $34

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: $20
  • Anggrek Putih Lombok Cooking Class: $30
  • Gili Trawangan: Authentic Indonesian Food Gili Cooking Class: $44
  • Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $55
  • Exquisite Dinner with Spectacular View at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $64
  • Traditional Cooking Class Experience With Recipes From The Past Generations: $70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.

  • 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
  • Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
  • Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • Quito Kitchens Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
  • Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $66
  • Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
  • Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
  • Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
  • Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lombok $9.27
    Quito $16

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: $16
  • Gili Air : Shared Tour with Sea Turtles & Underwater Statues: $18
  • Lombok Wildlife Park: Admission Ticket: $20
  • Lombok Waterfalls & Sukarara Weaving Village Tour: $22
  • Tetebatu Walking Tour: $23
  • Lombok Rafting Adventure Unforgettable Thrills with Lunch: $30
  • Lombok Sasak Culture and Village Tour: $35
  • Sasak Villages, Beaches, and Merese Hill Tour: $35
  • Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver: $36
  • Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis Snorkeling Tour and Island Hopping: $40
  • Lombok Biking Tour: $41
  • Exclusive Private Lombok Car Hire & Customized Tour: $43

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two
    $8.00

Tours and Activities in Quito

Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
  • 2 Day Quito to Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour with Accommodation: $281
  • 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
  • 3-Day Adventure: Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Jungle: $897
  • 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
  • 3-Day Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
  • 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
  • All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
  • Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770
  • Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
  • Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
  • Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $210

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lombok $7.34
    Quito $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • Beers for Two
    $9.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Quito

Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155


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