Is Lombok Cheaper Than Bali? Our Real Monthly Costs as a Retired Couple (2026 Budget Breakdown)

Everyone dreams of Bali — but as an early-retired couple slow traveling the world on $5,000 USD per month, we think Lombok is the better island. In this video we pull back the curtain on exactly what we spent during our 28 nights traveling across Lombok this past August — and we tell you straight up whether $5,000 USD per month is realistic for slow travel here. We break down all 13 budget categories including flights, accommodation across Kuta, Senaru and Gili Air, restaurants, groceries, and entertainment. We also did 15 scuba dives each — and we still nearly stayed on budget. Here's how. Plus we share exactly what we would do differently on a true slow travel month to bring the total comfortably under $5,000. We also celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary during this trip — which added some well-earned celebratory spending to the mix! Spoiler: slow traveling Lombok on $5,000 USD per month is absolutely doable. Here's the proof. We're Jeremy and Brooke — we retired in our 40s and slow travel the world full-time on $5,000 USD per month. For every destination we visit we make a full 3-video series so you know exactly what to expect before you go. 🔔 Subscribe — our Kuta, Lombok Check the Boxes verdict is coming next and you won't want to miss it. 💬 Have you slow traveled Lombok with access to a kitchen? Drop a comment and tell us if cooking your own meals was worth it! 💬 Have you been to Lombok or are you considering it over Bali? We'd love to help you plan — drop your questions below! ▶ Watch our Lombok Healthy & Active video first:    • Why Lombok is Perfect for Retirement Trave...   ⬇ WATCH OUR COMPLETE SLOW TRAVEL SERIES ⬇ ▶ Lombok Complete Slow Travel Series:    • Retirement Slow Travel: Lombok, Indonesia   ▶ Bangkok Complete Slow Travel Series:    • Retirement Slow Travel: Bangkok, Thailand   ▶ Da Nang Complete Slow Travel Series:    • Retirement Slow Travel: Da Nang, Vietnam   ▶ Koh Samui Complete Slow Travel Series:    • Retirement Slow Travel: Koh Samui, Thailand   ────────────────────── ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Lombok vs Bali — Why We Think Lombok Wins 0:35 — How We Traveled Lombok (Fast vs Slow Travel Explained) 1:02 — Flights & Transportation Costs in Lombok 2026 3:02 — Accommodation in Kuta, Senaru & Gili Air — What We Paid 4:54 — Restaurants & Dining Out in Lombok 6:35 — Groceries & Cooking in Lombok 7:25 — Entertainment & 15 Scuba Dives Each — The Big Splurge 8:50 — Active Lifestyle Costs — Gyms, Padel & Bike Rentals 9:54 — Medical, Insurance & Phone Costs Abroad 10:29 — Clothing & Personal Hygiene 10:45 — Personal Care - massages at Zona Gili Air 11:10 — Cellphones 11:35 — Health Insurance with Safety Wing 11:50 — Subscriptions & Fees and Miscellaneous Items 12:20 — Grand Total — $5,644 for 28 Nights in Lombok 13:00 — Final Verdict — Can You Do Lombok on $5,000/Month? ────────────────────── 🔗 RESOURCES WE USE & RECOMMEND Travel Insurance (SafetyWing): https://safetywing.com/nomad-insuranc... E-SIM (Airalo) — Use code JEREMY6503: https://airalo.go.link/3Cl5r VPN (NordVPN): https://refer-nordvpn.com/TTOoOTOBFWm Tours & Activities (Klook): https://klook.tpo.lu/cpB7Pyar Tours & Activities (Viator): https://viator.tpo.lu/K18vkrQX Accommodation (Agoda): https://agoda.tpo.lu/asxnzlLq Flights & Hotels (Trip.com): https://trip.tpo.lu/a1UiUa6g Private Driver in Lombok: Agus: Whatsapp: +62 819-3701-1328 [email protected] ☕ Buy Us a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/escapevelocityretirement 📧 [email protected] #lombokindonesia #SlowTravelRetirement #RetiredCoupleTravel #RetirementTravel #EscapeVelocityRetirementTravel