Cost of Living in Lombok: Complete Breakdown for Long-Term Stays

Lombok has been quietly attracting long-term travelers, digital nomads, and expats who want the Indonesian island lifestyle without Bali's crowds and inflated prices. The cost of living is genuinely low, especially outside the Gili Islands.

### Monthly Budget Summary

| Category | Budget | Comfortable | Luxury |

|----------|--------|------------|--------|

| Rent | $100-200 | $250-500 | $600-2,000 |

| Food | $150-250 | $300-500 | $500-1,000 |

| Transport | $30-60 | $60-120 | $200-400 |

| Utilities/internet | $30-50 | $50-80 | $80-150 |

| Lifestyle/health | $50-100 | $150-300 | $400-1,000 |

| Visa costs (amortized) | $50-80 | $50-80 | $80-150 |

| Total | $410-740 | $860-1,580 | $1,860-4,700 |

These are realistic ranges based on current prices in Kuta Lombok and Senggigi, the two main areas where long-term foreign visitors stay.

### Short-Term (Monthly Booking)

If you are staying for 1-3 months, you will likely rent a room or small unit on a monthly basis. Rates include furnished rooms with at least a bed, basic furniture, and usually WiFi.

| Type | Monthly Rate | Notes |

|------|-------------|-------|

| Guesthouse room (fan, shared bath) | 1,500,000-2,500,000 IDR ($100-160) | Basic but functional |

| Private room (AC, private bath) | 3,000,000-5,000,000 IDR ($200-325) | The sweet spot for most nomads |

| Studio/1BR apartment | 4,000,000-7,000,000 IDR ($260-455) | Kitchen access, more space |

| Small house | 5,000,000-8,000,000 IDR ($325-520) | Local-style with garden |

| Villa with pool | 10,000,000-30,000,000+ IDR ($650-1,950+) | Full amenity luxury |

### Long-Term (6+ Months)

Negotiating a 6-month or yearly contract drops prices 20-40% from monthly rates. At this level, a comfortable one-bedroom house near Kuta Lombok can be found for $200-300/month, and a basic but clean room for under $150.

### Where to Stay Long-Term

Kuta Lombok: The most popular base for long-term visitors. Growing nomad infrastructure, surf access, restaurants, and a social scene. Prices are fair and the area strikes a good balance between convenience and authentic Lombok experience.

Senggigi: More established tourist infrastructure, closer to Mataram for services. Slightly dated resort area but has charm. Good for those who want urban access plus beach.

Mataram: The cheapest option. Full city services, modern infrastructure, local prices. But lacks the beach and nature that most people come to Lombok for.

Gili Islands: The most expensive option. Limited long-term housing. Best for those specifically wanting the Gili lifestyle and willing to pay the island premium.

### Finding a Place

• Walk around: In Kuta Lombok and Senggigi, "For Rent" signs are common. The best deals are found by walking around and asking directly.
• Facebook groups: "Lombok Expat Community" and "Kuta Lombok Accommodation" have regular listings
• Your temporary accommodation: Stay in a guesthouse for a few days and ask the owner about longer-term options in the area. Local networks are the best resource.
• OLX Indonesia: The Indonesian Craigslist equivalent, with some Lombok listings

### Eating Out

Local warung meals are the foundation of affordable eating in Lombok. A full meal at a warung costs 15,000-30,000 IDR ($1-2). Eating three warung meals a day costs approximately $3-5, or $90-150/month.

Tourist restaurants charge 3-5x more: 50,000-120,000 IDR per main course. Eating one restaurant meal per day adds $100-200/month.

A realistic monthly food budget for someone who mixes local and tourist dining:

| Style | Monthly Food Cost |

|-------|------------------|

| All local warung | $90-150 |

| Mix of local and tourist | $200-400 |

| Mostly tourist restaurants | $400-700 |

| Fine dining / delivery | $600-1,000+ |

### Groceries and Cooking

If your accommodation has a kitchen, cooking at home can save money, though the savings over warung eating are less dramatic than in Western countries (since warung meals are already so cheap).

Grocery prices at supermarkets (Hardy's in Mataram, smaller shops in Kuta):

| Item | Price |

|------|-------|

| Rice (5 kg) | 60,000-80,000 IDR ($4-5) |

| Eggs (dozen) | 25,000-30,000 IDR ($1.60-2) |

| Chicken breast (kg) | 35,000-50,000 IDR ($2.30-3.25) |

| Local vegetables (market) | 5,000-15,000 IDR per bunch |

| Imported cheese | 50,000-100,000 IDR ($3.25-6.50) |

| Milk (1L imported) | 25,000-35,000 IDR ($1.60-2.30) |

| Cooking oil (1L) | 15,000-20,000 IDR ($1-1.30) |

### Coffee Culture

Lombok has a growing specialty coffee scene, especially in Kuta Lombok. A coffee at a local cafe costs 15,000-25,000 IDR ($1-1.60), while specialty shops charge 25,000-45,000 IDR ($1.60-2.90). Monthly coffee costs for a daily drinker: $30-90.

### Scooter (Most Common)

Most long-term visitors rent a scooter on a monthly basis:

• Monthly rental: 800,000-1,200,000 IDR ($52-78)
• Monthly fuel: 150,000-300,000 IDR ($10-20)
• Total: approximately $60-100/month

This is the most practical and cost-effective transport for long-term stays. Monthly rental rates are substantially cheaper than daily rates.

### Occasional Taxi/Grab

For trips where a scooter is not practical (airport transfers, nights out, large purchases), budget 100,000-300,000 IDR ($6.50-20) per month for occasional taxi or Grab usage.

### Car Rental

If you need a car (family, lots of gear, rainy season comfort), monthly car rental costs 4,000,000-7,000,000 IDR ($260-455) plus fuel.

### Electricity

If your rent does not include electricity (some monthly rentals charge separately), expect to pay 200,000-500,000 IDR ($13-32) per month depending on AC usage. Heavy AC use in a whole house can push this to 700,000+ IDR.

### Water

Drinking water: 15,000-30,000 IDR per gallon jug, or use refill stations. Monthly cost: approximately 50,000-100,000 IDR ($3-6.50).

### Internet

This is Lombok's biggest weakness for digital nomads. Options:

Mobile data (Telkomsel): The most reliable option. Monthly plans of 30-50 GB cost 100,000-200,000 IDR ($6.50-13). Good speeds in populated areas but inconsistent in rural zones and poor for video calls.

Accommodation WiFi: Included in most rentals. Quality varies wildly — from adequate for basic browsing to unusable for video calls. Ask about speeds before committing to a long-term rental.

Fixed-line fiber (IndiHome): Available in Mataram and some areas of Senggigi and Kuta Lombok. Plans from 300,000-500,000 IDR per month ($20-32) for reliable, fast internet. If you depend on consistent internet for remote work, find accommodation with IndiHome or equivalent.

Coworking spaces: Kuta Lombok has a few coworking spaces with reliable internet. Monthly memberships cost 500,000-1,500,000 IDR ($32-97).

### Realistic Internet Budget

• Casual user (mobile data + accommodation WiFi): $10-20/month
• Remote worker (mobile data + coworking or fiber): $40-100/month

### Healthcare

Basic healthcare in Lombok is affordable:

• Doctor visit: 100,000-200,000 IDR ($6.50-13)
• Pharmacy (common medications): 20,000-100,000 IDR ($1.30-6.50)
• Dental cleaning: 200,000-400,000 IDR ($13-26)

For serious medical needs, Mataram has the best facilities (RSU Mataram, Siloam Hospital). For major procedures, most expats travel to Bali or Jakarta.

Health insurance: Essential for long-term stays. International policies start from $50-100/month depending on coverage level.

### Fitness and Wellness

• Yoga class: 80,000-150,000 IDR ($5-10) per session
• Surf lesson: 200,000-350,000 IDR ($13-23)
• Massage: 80,000-150,000 IDR ($5-10) per hour
• Gym membership: Not widely available outside Mataram. Some accommodations have basic equipment.

### Entertainment

Lombok is not Bali when it comes to nightlife and entertainment. Options are more limited and centered on natural activities:

• Surfing: Free once you have a board (rental 50,000-100,000 IDR/day)
• Snorkeling: Free with your own gear
• Bars in Kuta Lombok: Beer 35,000-55,000 IDR, cocktails 60,000-100,000 IDR
• Gili T nightlife: Beer 40,000-60,000 IDR, cocktails 80,000-150,000 IDR

Monthly entertainment budget: $50-200 depending on how social and active you are.

### Visa on Arrival + Extension (60 Days Max)

• VOA: 500,000 IDR ($35)
• Extension (30 additional days): 500,000 IDR official fee + 300,000-500,000 agent fee
• Total for 60 days: approximately $70-100

### B211A Social/Cultural Visa (180 Days)

• Visa cost: $100-200 through an agent
• Monthly extensions (required): $30-50 each through an agent in Mataram
• Total for 180 days: approximately $350-500

### Second Passport Run

Many long-term visitors do visa runs to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Timor-Leste every 60 days. Cost: $200-400 per run including flights and accommodation. Factor this into your monthly budget as approximately $100-200/month amortized.

| Category | Lombok | Bali (Canggu) | Chiang Mai | Da Nang |

|----------|--------|--------------|------------|---------|

| Rent (1BR) | $200-400 | $400-800 | $250-500 | $300-500 |

| Food/month | $200-400 | $300-600 | $200-400 | $200-350 |

| Coworking | $30-100 | $80-200 | $50-150 | $50-100 |

| Internet | Variable | Good | Excellent | Excellent |

| Community | Small | Large | Large | Medium |

| Total/month | $700-1,400 | $1,200-2,500 | $800-1,500 | $800-1,500 |

Lombok's advantage: Lower rent, fewer crowds, incredible natural beauty, authentic Indonesian culture, great surfing. Lombok's disadvantage: Weaker internet infrastructure, smaller nomad community, fewer coworking spaces, limited nightlife, fewer Western conveniences.

Lombok is ideal for independent workers who prioritize nature and quiet over social scene and cafe culture, and who can handle occasional internet frustrations.