Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Lombok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Lombok or Saint John?
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 Saint John. 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 Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.
-
Lombok Prices
Indonesia PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $59Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $59, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $28Saint John $106
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $56Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Saint John? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Airport To Senggigi/senggigi To Airport: $70
- Airport transfer from Lombok airport to Sembalun Rinjiani area: $60
- Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Serangan: $73
- Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $28
- Kuta Lombok Transfer: $12
- Lombok Int Airport (LOP) to Lombok - Round Trip Private Transfer: $50
- Private Airport Lombok Transfers to or from Gili Islands: $32
- One way Private Airport Transfer To Mataram & Senggigi Area: $40
- Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $17
- Private Transfer from Airport to or from Gili Asahan/ Gili Gede: $51
- Private Transfer from Batu Bolong to Lombok Airport (LOP): $67
- Private Transfer from Bintaro to Lombok Airport (LOP): $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 dayLombok $20Saint John $97
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 Lombok Cooking Class : $25
- Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
- Love and Legends: The Ultimate Romantic Dinner on the beach : $65
- Amazing Lombok BBQ Beach Sunset Dinner: $86
- Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $100
- Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $119
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $9.90Saint John $23
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 Tour-Car Hire With Full day Customize Trip: $33
- Lombok Customize Tour with Private Driver: $35
- Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver : $36
- Half-Day Mataram City Tour: $45
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok White Water Rafting and Pura Lingsar Private Full Day Tour: $48
- Gili Nanggu Snorkeling Tour to a Tropical Paradise: $49
- Mataram Lombok Historical City tour: $49
- Lombok City Tour combination With Temple Tour : $49
- Benang Stokel, Benang Kelambu, Culture, & Beach Tour: $49
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $7.84Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lombok or Saint John?
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 Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Saint John. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Also, May to September in Lombok is the dry season. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Saint John. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Lombok is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyLombok 26°C (79°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Lombok is November to April. It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in Lombok. In October, Lombok usually receives less rain than Saint John. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Lombok is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLombok 28°C (82°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Lombok during the winter 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 Saint John year-round.
Lombok usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Lombok is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lombok in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLombok 28°C (82°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
May to September in Lombok is the dry season. Also, November to April is the rainy season in Lombok. In April, Lombok usually receives more rain than Saint John. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Lombok is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilLombok 28°C (82°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Lombok
| Lombok | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.