Fukuoka vs Lombok

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

Lombok, Indonesia
🇮🇩Indonesia

Lombok

70Freedom Score#47Global rank$536Per month

Bali's quieter, rawer neighbour — pristine beaches, world-class surf, volcano trekking, and a rapidly growing nomad scene at a fraction of Bali's prices.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseFukuokaLombok
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600$536
Rent, 1BR city centre$500$332
Meal, mid-range$10$10
Coworking deskper month$180$49
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.022.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureFukuokaLombok
Safety
85
60
Healthcare
90
40
Walkability
85
40
English spoken
42
40
Food & dining
90
70
Nightlife
65
50
Outdoors
58
90
Nomad community
58
50
Climate quality
60
82
Public transit
95
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaLombok
Freedom Score73/10070/100
Global rankof 100 cities#37#47
Internet100 Mbps46 Mbps
Average temperature63°F82°F
Air quality30/10048/100
Airport connectivity78/10060/100
Nomad visa90 days free60 days
Headline tax rateon local income20%0%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if internet is faster at 100 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 60), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Lombok if runs $1,064/mo cheaper, rent is $168/mo lower, the climate scores better and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Lombok

  • Lowest cost of living of any beach destination on this list
  • Selong Belanak: one of the world's most perfect surf breaks
  • Gili Islands 30 minutes by boat — no motorised vehicles
  • Mount Rinjani trek: one of Southeast Asia's best hikes

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Fukuoka or Lombok?
Fukuoka scores higher on the Freedom Score (73/100 against 70/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Fukuoka or Lombok?
Lombok is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $536 against $1,600, a difference of $1,064 a month or about $12,768 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $332/mo in Lombok.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Lombok?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 60/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Fukuoka and Lombok?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Lombok averages 46 Mbps, so Fukuoka has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Lombok?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) and Lombok in Indonesia (60 days). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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