Living in Lombok

What to expect

South Lombok is quieter, simpler and slower than Bali. Most people who move here come for exactly that. It also means fewer services, longer drives for anything specialist, and more things you'll need to sort out yourself.

This guide covers the practical side. It doesn't cover visas, which have their own guide. If you're still choosing between the islands, read Lombok vs Bali first.

Healthcare

Care in Lombok comes in three levels, and it helps to know which is which before you need it.

• Around Kuta and Mandalika: small clinics and doctors' practices handle minor injuries, infections, stitches and surf scrapes. Some have English-speaking staff. They're not set up for major emergencies.
• Mataram: the provincial capital has the island's main hospitals, including private ones such as Siloam Hospitals Mataram and Harapan Keluarga, and the provincial public hospital. These cover most routine treatment, scans and surgery. From Kuta, allow around an hour to an hour and a half by road.
• Bali and Singapore: for serious illness, complex surgery or specialist care, many expats go to the larger international hospitals in Bali, a short flight away, or to Singapore.

From the quieter bays, such as Tampah, Selong Belanak or Ekas, everything is a longer drive. Ekas especially is a long way from a hospital.

Insurance. Get international health insurance that includes medical evacuation, and read what it says about scooter accidents, pre-existing conditions and which hospitals it pays directly. Evacuation by air ambulance is very expensive without cover. Some residence-permit holders can also join Indonesia's national scheme, BPJS Kesehatan; ask whether it applies to your permit.

Pharmacies (apotek) are common in Kuta and Mataram. If you take a regular prescription, bring a supply and a copy of the prescription, and check that the medicine is allowed into Indonesia.

Schools and children

Choice is limited compared with Bali. There are a small number of international and intercultural schools, mostly around Mataram, and one near Kuta:

• Near Kuta: Mandalika Intercultural School takes children from early years upwards.
• Mataram: Sekolah Nusa Alam, the longest-established, teaches a Cambridge curriculum. A few smaller international schools also operate in the city.

Class sizes are small and the age range each school covers changes from year to year. Visit, ask about accreditation and which exams older students sit, and confirm fees directly.

Many families combine local schooling with online schools or homeschool, often in small groups with other families. Some send older teenagers to school in Bali. If you have children over about 12, check the options for them before you commit to a move.

Internet and phones

Connectivity is good enough for remote work in most places, but it needs planning.

• Fibre: available in parts of Kuta and Mandalika, and in Mataram and Senggigi. It often doesn't reach hillside villas or the quieter bays. Ask for the provider and a speed test at the actual property, not just in the nearest village.
• Starlink: widely used in South Lombok, especially where there's no fibre. It needs a clear view of the sky and power to run.
• Mobile: 4G covers the main towns and roads. Telkomsel generally has the widest coverage on the island. Signal drops in some valleys and on the Ekas peninsula.

If your income depends on being online, keep two connections, such as fibre or Starlink plus a mobile router, and put them on a battery backup. If you bring a phone from abroad and stay a long time, check the current rules on registering its IMEI number so it keeps working on a local SIM.

Power and water

Electricity comes from the state company, PLN. Power cuts happen, more often in the wet season and in rural areas, and voltage can dip. Most people living here use:

• a UPS or battery for the router and computer
• surge protection for air conditioners, pumps and appliances
• in many villas, a generator or a solar and battery system

Check the size of the villa's PLN connection. A small connection can't run several air conditioners, a pool pump and a sauna at once, and upgrading it takes time and money.

Water is mains-fed in parts of the towns, but many villas rely on a bore well, a water tank or deliveries by truck. Ask where the water comes from, whether it lasts through the dry season, and what filtration is fitted. Don't drink tap water; most households use filtered water or refillable 19-litre bottles (galon).

For new builds, read the building a villa guide on utilities, and the earthquakes and natural hazards guide before choosing a site.

Getting around

• Scooters: the way most people get around the south coast. They're cheap to rent by the month. Accidents are common, so wear a proper helmet, hold the right licence and make sure your insurance covers riding.
• Drivers: easy to hire by the day or the trip, and the usual choice for airport runs, Mataram and families.
• Cars: useful if you live in the hills or have children. Some access roads are steep, narrow or unsealed, and can be hard work in the wet season.
• Ride-hailing apps: work in Mataram, but are patchy or not allowed in parts of the south coast, where local drivers run transport.

To drive legally you need an International Driving Permit that covers the right vehicle class, or an Indonesian licence if you're resident.

Lombok International Airport is near Praya, around half an hour from Kuta and a little under an hour from Tampah. Most international journeys connect through Bali, Jakarta or a regional hub such as Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Direct routes come and go, so check what's flying when you plan.

Shopping and supplies

Kuta has minimarts, fresh markets, bakeries and a few shops stocking imported basics. For a big shop, most people drive to Mataram, which has the Lombok Epicentrum Mall, supermarkets, hardware stores and electronics shops.

Local produce, fish and rice are cheap. Imported cheese, wine, spirits and speciality foods are expensive and not always in stock. Some residents bring things back from Bali. Building materials, furniture and spare parts often come from Mataram or Bali, so repairs can take longer than you'd expect.

Cost of living

Costs depend far more on how you live than on where. These are indicative monthly ranges for a couple, before rent or mortgage.

Indicative ranges drawn from 2026 cost-of-living estimates and local prices, rounded. Published figures vary a lot. Treat these as a sense-check, not a budget.

If you rent while you look, or while a villa is built, a simple one-bedroom around Kuta is often quoted at roughly IDR 3–7 million (about US$190–450) a month, and a villa with a pool much more. Owning a villa also brings maintenance, pool care, repairs and land and building tax. The villa management guide covers running costs.

Community and culture

Most people in Lombok are Sasak, and most are Muslim. Lombok is often called the island of a thousand mosques. There are also Balinese Hindu communities, mainly in the west around Mataram. Village life is close-knit, and customs (adat) matter.

• Call to prayer: you'll hear it five times a day, including before dawn. If you're sensitive to noise, note where the nearest mosque is before you buy.
• Ramadan: the fasting month moves about 11 days earlier each year. Many local businesses keep shorter hours, and some warungs close in the day. Eat and drink discreetly in public, especially away from tourist areas. Eid (Lebaran) at the end brings a long holiday, and staff and builders often go home for a week or more.
• Dress: swimwear is fine on the beach. In villages, markets and offices, cover shoulders and knees.
• Alcohol: available in tourist areas, but drinking is frowned on in many villages. Keep it at home or in bars and restaurants.
• Noise and events: weddings, ceremonies and festivals can run late with loud music, and so can MotoGP weekends near Mandalika. It's part of living in a village, not something to complain about.

The expat community is small but friendly, centred on Kuta and Senggigi, and built around surfing, yoga, cafés and coworking. Learning some Bahasa Indonesia makes a real difference, with neighbours, builders and officials alike. Being a good neighbour matters too: employing local people, paying fairly and showing up for village events.

The wet season

The wet season runs roughly from November to March, with the heaviest rain usually from December to February. The dry season runs from about April to October, and the south is often drier than the north and west. Rain tends to come in heavy afternoon or evening bursts rather than all day.

In the wet season, expect:

• muddy or washed-out access roads, especially to hillside plots
• more power cuts and slower repairs
• damp and mould in closed-up rooms, so ventilation and dehumidifiers help
• green hills, fewer visitors and lower rental demand

The dry season brings dusty roads, brown hills and, in some places, wells running low. If you can, visit a property in both seasons before you buy.

Choosing where to live

If you want services within a few minutes, look at Kuta and Mandalika or Gerupuk nearby. For a calmer beach and a bit more distance, Selong Belanak and Tampah. For space and surf above all, Ekas. If schools and hospitals matter most, Senggigi is closest to Mataram. South Lombok areas compared puts the south coast side by side.

Planning to live here part of the year? Tell me how you'd use a villa, and I'll point you to areas and properties that fit. Developers run all site visits, in person or by video call.

Common questions

This guide is general information, based on sources available in 2026. Services, prices and rules change. Check the details that matter to you locally before you move.