Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Pai?
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 Pai or Lombok?
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 Pai and Lombok. 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: Pai or Lombok?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesLombok Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $89Lombok $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $89, while the average daily cost in Lombok is $55. 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 Pai and Lombok in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Lombok $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Lombok $52
Compare Hotels in Pai and Lombok
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Lombok? 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Lombok Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $41Lombok $9.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Wisata Alam Semongkat to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $218
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Pekat: $96
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Lopok: $159
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Lempeh: $96
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Brang Biji: $98
- Private Transfer from Sigar Penjalin to Lombok Airport (LOP): $77
- Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $34
- Private Transfer from Mangsit to Lombok Airport (LOP): $34
- Private Transfer from Lombok to Lombok International Airport: $43
- Private Transfer from Lombok Island Hotels to Lombok Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok Airport (LOP): $26
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Pengawisan: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Lombok?
Prices for flights to both Lombok and Pai 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 dayPai $41Lombok $19
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
- Babah Peranakan Chinese Cuisine Dinner in Lombok: $66
- Traditional Cooking Class Experience With Recipes From The Past Generations: $70
- Amazing Lombok BBQ Beach Sunset Dinner: $88
- Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $45Lombok $9.21
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
- "Private 2D1N Adventure: Explore Pergasingan Hills": $163
- 1 Day Pink Beach Tour in East Lombok: $86
- 3 Days Lombok Sharing Tour: $144
- 3D 2N Mount Rinjani Trekking Tour To Summit And Lake: $232
- Beach Tour in Lombok Indonesia: $51
- Benang Kelambu & Stokel (Waterfall Tour): $67
- Benang Kelambu & Stokel Waterfalls and Handweaving Village Tour: $48
- Best Lombok Rice Terrace Walking Tour With Waterfall & Monkey: $60
- Discover Lombok Half Day City Tour: $94
- Discover the Best of South Beaches & Culture: Exclusive Tour: $54
- Dolphins Cruise: $154
- Exclusive Private Experience: 5 Secret Gili Islands: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Lombok $7.29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Lombok, we can see that Pai 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Lombok Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Lombok?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Pai or Lombok in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Lombok. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
May to September in Lombok is the dry season. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Lombok. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Lombok. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Lombok averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Lombok 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Pai or Lombok in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Lombok. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year.
November to April in Lombok is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Lombok. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Lombok. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Lombok. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Lombok 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Lombok in the Winter?
Both Lombok and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Lombok. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Lombok during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Lombok receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.
Pai is cooler than Lombok in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Lombok fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Lombok 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Lombok in the Spring?
Both Lombok and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round.
May to September is the dry season in Lombok. November to April is the rainy season in Lombok. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Lombok. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Lombok receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is a little warmer than Lombok. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Lombok averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Lombok 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Lombok and Pai
| Pai | Lombok | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.