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Lombok vs Medan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐ฉ Lombok
๐ฎ๐ฉ Medan
At a glance
- Where Medan is clearly cheaper: Laundry (47%โ), Studio rent (month) (30%โ), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (25%โ)
- Where Lombok is clearly cheaper: SIM card (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Medan is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.4). Biggest gap: getting around โ Lombok 4 vs Medan 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Lombok | Medan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Rp 30,000$1.84 | similar |
| Street food1 item | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Rp 20,000$1.23 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Medan โ20% |
| Coffeeone cup | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Rp 45,000$2.76 | Medan โ10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | similar |
| Bottled water | Rp 5,000$0.31 | Rp 4,000$0.25 | Medan โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Rp 6,000$0.37 | Rp 7,000$0.43 | Lombok โ14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Lombok โ14% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Medan โ25% |
| Transitone ride | Rp 5,000$0.31 | Rp 5,000$0.31 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | Rp 75,000$4.6 | Rp 80,000$4.91 | Lombok โ6% |
| Hotel night3-star | Rp 500,000$30.7 | Rp 550,000$33.7 | Lombok โ9% |
| Studio rent (month) | Rp 5,000,000$307 | Rp 3,500,000$215 | Medan โ30% |
| Laundry | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 8,000$0.49 | Medan โ47% |
| SIM card1 week data | Rp 80,000$4.91 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Lombok โ20% |
| Haircutcut | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Rp 40,000$2.45 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Rp 120,000$7.36 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | Rp 300,000$18.4 | Rp 250,000$15.3 | Medan โ17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Lombok โ14% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Lombok or Medan?
Medan is 13% cheaper than Lombok. Daily budget $55.7 vs $57.3; a month $1,218 vs $874.
Which is easier to travel, Lombok or Medan?
Medan is easier: Medan 3.0/5 vs Lombok 3.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Lombok and Medan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Lombok is about $1,218 and Medan about $874 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.