Which place is cheaper, Lombok or Chennai?
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 Chennai or Lombok?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Lombok? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Chennai or Lombok?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia.
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Chennai Prices
India PricesLombok Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $32Lombok $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $32, while the average daily cost in Lombok is $59. 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 Chennai and Lombok in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Lombok $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Lombok $56
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Lombok
Looking for a hotel in Chennai 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Lombok Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.47Lombok $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 12-Day Guided Tour to Kochi with Transfers: $1,167
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Thiruvannamalai: Ultimate Guide: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Pondicherry: Comfortable Travel: $130
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
- Private Departure Transfer: Mahabalipuram Hotels to Chennai Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $41
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer : $29
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
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): $230
- Private Transfer from Lopok to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $165
- Private Transfer from Brang Biji to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $101
- Private Transfer from Lempeh to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ): $101
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Lempeh: $101
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Pekat: $101
- Private Transfer from Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) to Brang Bara: $101
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Sokong: $77
- Private Transfer from Sokong to Lombok Airport (LOP): $77
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Sigar Penjalin: $77
- Eka Jaya Boat Transfer from Lombok to Serangan: $73
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Pengawisan: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Lombok?
Prices for flights to both Lombok and Chennai 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 dayChennai $11Lombok $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Meena: $54
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $76
- Traditional Cooking Class in Chennai in a Local Home with Sundari: $78
- Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private Market Tour and South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $200
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.63Lombok $9.90
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Chennai to Temple Trail: Srikalahasti & Sri Venkateswara Tour: $103
- Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour in Chennai with guide: $45
- 7-Day Spiritual Tamil Nadu Private Tour from Chennai: $586
- A Private Day tour from Chennai to Gingee & Thiruvannamalai: $96
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
- Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai: $134
- Birds & Beyond: Chennai to Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Day Tour: $135
- British Architecture Walk, an immersive walking tour in Chennai: $55
- CHENNAI FULL DAY TOUR: $68
- Chennai - Guided half day private city tour : $56
- Chennai Cultural Day Tour with Mahabalipuram Drop: $86
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
- Waterfall Tour And Sasak Traditional Tour: $77
- "Private 2D1N Adventure: Explore Pergasingan Hills": $163
- 1 Day Pink Beach Tour in East Lombok: $92
- 3 Days Tour in Mount Rinjani Summit with Lake Hiking : $285
- 3D 2N Mount Rinjani Trekking Tour To Summit And Lake: $195
- Best Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls Tour: $70
- Best Waterfall Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Private Tour: $59
- Car Hire Lombok tradition village tour: $99
- Dirt Bike Adventure at Kuta Lombok: $135
- Dolphins Cruise: $154
- Excursions for Cruise Ship Passengers : $71
- Exotic Lombok's Pink Beach Private Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $2.92Lombok $7.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Lombok, we can see that Lombok is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Lombok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lombok than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Lombok Expensive?.
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.