Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Lombok?
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 Lombok or Cebu?
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 Cebu. 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 Cebu?
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.
Cebu
Cebu Island is an important island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, characterized by its main port at Cebu City as well as many natural features. The most-visited areas include islands of Mactan, Bantayan, Badian, Malapascua and Camotes, all which have resorts and hotels. Scuba diving and snorkeling are common activities along the shoreline, while hiking the mountainous spine of the island is popular inland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines.
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Lombok Prices
Indonesia PricesCebu Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $59Cebu $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $59, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $80. 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 Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $28Cebu $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $56Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Cebu? 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 Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11Cebu $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuta Lombok Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $17
- Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok island hotels: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Island Hotels to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Koeta : $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Batu Payung: $30
- Private Airport Lombok Transfers to or from Gili Islands: $32
- Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mangsit: $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Bintaro: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $208
- Oslob Whale Shark Encounter & SUMILON with Transfers: $196
- Mactan-Cebu Island Hopping Cruise with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $196
- Bohol Day Tour from Cebu (Shared) w/ RT Transfers & Ferry: $185
- Oslob Private Van Transfer between Cebu, Mactan or Mandaue City: $175
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering w/ Lunch & Transfers from Cebu City: $122
- Cebu Safari & Adventure Park: Wildlife Tour with Transfers: $102
- One-way Airport Transfer to Cebu City Hotels: $89
- Canyoneering Cebu in Kawasan falls + meals + Cebu transfer option: $53
- Cebu Airport Transfer to / from Anywhere in Cebu: $37
- Private Airport to Hotel Transfer in Cebu City: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu 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 $20Cebu $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Carbon Market Food Tour & Bars with Jeepney Ride: $16
- Highlands Guided Tour with STREET FOOD TOUR OPTION: $45
- The Ultimate Cebu Food Tour: Local Tastes & Cultural Journey: $70
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $89
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $98
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $100
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking Class: $107
- Cebu Traditional Bamboo Cooking: $110
- Cebu Vegetarian Cooking Class: $110
- Cebu Traditional Cuisine Cooking Class: $110
- 5-Hour Evening Tour from Cebu with Dinner: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $9.90Cebu $17
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 Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour | Joiners: $64
- Cebu Steet food, historical and mountain tour: $110
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Aqua Sports Adventure Package with 3 Water Activities: $129
- BEST OF Cebu City Heritage with Uphill Tour: $61
- BEST OF Guided Heritage City Joiners Tour: $44
- Badian Canyoneering Adventure and Kawasan Waterfalls Private Tour: $149
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $146
- Badian Cebu Canyoneering Experience: $103
- Balamban Uphill Adventure Tour in Cebu: $100
- Best Seller Cebu City Group Tour: $53
- Bohol Countryside Day Tour From Cebu City | Lunch at Loboc River Cruise: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $7.84Cebu $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Makati Pub Crawl with Optional City Tour: $18
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lombok and Cebu, we can see that Cebu 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 Cebu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cebu 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 Cebu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lombok or Cebu?
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 Cebu in the Summer?
Both Cebu 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
May to September is the dry season in Lombok. Cebu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Cebu. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Lombok is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 26°C (79°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLombok 26°C (79°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Cebu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, November to April is the rainy season in Lombok. Cebu 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 Cebu. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Lombok is around the same temperature as Cebu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLombok 28°C (82°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Cebu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Cebu. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
Lombok usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Cebu. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Lombok is around the same temperature as Cebu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lombok in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Cebu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLombok 28°C (82°F)Cebu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Cebu in the Spring?
Both Cebu and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Lombok is May to September. The rainy season in Lombok is November to April. In April, Lombok usually receives more rain than Cebu. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Lombok is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLombok 28°C (82°F)Cebu 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Cebu and Lombok
| Lombok | Cebu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.