Lombok vs Siargao

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.

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.

Siargao, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Siargao

66Freedom Score#62Global rank$1,000Per month

The Philippines' surf-island paradise — Cloud 9 waves, palm-fringed lagoons, and a tight island-nomad community with an easy 30-day visa.

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.

ExpenseLombokSiargao
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$536$1,000
Rent, 1BR city centre$332$350
Meal, mid-range$10$7
Coworking deskper month$49$190
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper22.040.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureLombokSiargao
Safety
60
62
Healthcare
40
38
Walkability
40
45
English spoken
40
80
Food & dining
70
58
Nightlife
50
62
Outdoors
90
38
Nomad community
50
68
Climate quality
82
72
Public transit
30
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureLombokSiargao
Freedom Score70/10066/100
Global rankof 100 cities#47#62
Internet46 Mbps35 Mbps
Average temperature82°F82°F
Air quality48/10030/100
Airport connectivity60/10032/100
Nomad visa60 days30 days free
Headline tax rateon local income0%20%

Which should you choose?

Choose Lombok if runs $464/mo cheaper, rent is $18/mo lower, internet is faster at 46 Mbps and the climate scores better.

Choose Siargao if it scores higher on safety (62 vs 60), it is more walkable, English is more widely spoken and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

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

Siargao

  • Cloud 9: Philippines' surf capital
  • Palm islands, lagoons, island-hopping
  • Tight nomad and surfer community
  • Laid-back island life

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Lombok or Siargao?
Lombok scores higher on the Freedom Score (70/100 against 66/100), 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: Lombok or Siargao?
Lombok is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $536 against $1,000, a difference of $464 a month or about $5,568 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $332/mo in Lombok versus $350/mo in Siargao.
Which is safer: Lombok or Siargao?
Siargao scores higher on safety, 62/100 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 Lombok and Siargao?
Lombok averages 46 Mbps and Siargao averages 35 Mbps, so Lombok has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Lombok or Siargao?
Lombok sits in Indonesia (60 days) and Siargao in Philippines (30 days free). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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