Which place is cheaper, Sado or Lombok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lombok or Sado?
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 Sado. 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 Sado?
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.
Sado
Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.
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 Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $52Sado $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $52, while the average daily cost in Sado is $62. 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 Sado in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $29Sado $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $58Sado $60
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Sado
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Sado? 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 Sado Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11Sado $14
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 Sado?
Prices for flights to both Sado 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 $12Sado $23
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $10Sado $8.43
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $8.15Sado $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and Sado, we can see that Sado 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 Sado would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sado 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 Sado Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lombok or Sado?
Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?
Both Sado 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. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Lombok is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 26°C (79°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Sado. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLombok 26°C (79°F)Sado 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Sado in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Also, many visitors come to Sado in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Lombok is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Sado 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 Sado. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLombok 28°C (82°F)Sado 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Sado in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Sado. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Sado can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Lombok is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lombok in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Lombok often gets more sunshine than Sado. Lombok gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Sado. Lombok usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLombok 28°C (82°F)Sado 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Sado in the Spring?
Both Sado and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year.
In April, Lombok is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In April, Lombok usually receives less rain than Sado. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLombok 28°C (82°F)Sado 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sado and Lombok
| Lombok | Sado | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 162 mm (6.4 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.