Cuenca vs Lombok: cost of living for digital nomads
Cuenca, Ecuador and Lombok, Indonesia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cuenca is about 2% cheaper than Lombok for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,120).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Lombok against $480 in Cuenca.
- Both score 7/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Lombok: 70 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Cuenca is temperate; Lombok is tropical.
Cuenca wins 2 of the measured lines; Lombok wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Lombok?
Cuenca is cheaper: about $1,100/month against $1,120/month in Lombok, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cuenca or Lombok?
Cuenca and Lombok score the same on safety, 7/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Cuenca or Lombok?
Lombok has faster typical internet: 70 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Cuenca.
| Line | Cuenca | Lombok |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,120 |
| Rent | $480 | $450 |
| Food | $320 | $300 |
| Transport | $35 | $60 |
| Coworking | $90 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 70 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | mountain | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Cuenca with
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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Cuenca November 12, 2026, Lombok September 10, 2026.