There’s no doubt that Lombok island is absolutely gorgeous with so much to see and do, from the Gili’s to hiking up Rinjani! The south coast, particularly around Kuta (the Lombok one), is a perfect blend of wide bays, dusty roads, and surfboards on scooters. And, as we discovered, it’s also a fantastic spot to work.
We spent a month in Lombok, falling into a pretty typical rhythm: calls, deadlines, gym sessions, coffee runs, and then the sweet reward of an afternoon swim or a sunset view that was just a quick ten-minute scooter ride away. If you’re after a laid-back base that’s still practical, cheaper than Bali, and brimming with weekend adventures that don’t require much planning, Lombok is a solid choice.
So here are my ratings for a few categories after a month in Lombok, if you’re interested I’ve got more digital nomad rankings too!
A bit about us and these guides
I’ve been travelling slowly while working remotely since 2023, and I like to spend at least a month in each place with my partner, Manu, who travels with me.
We usually gravitate towards nature-focused spots rather than bustling cities, at least for those longer stays. I think an important note is that we’re not really the party type or overly social, so if that’s your scene, these guides might not be the best fit for you!
Generally, we rely on public transport when it’s available (and you’ll see the rating for it accordingly, if it exists!).
After each month-long stay, we evaluate the destination based on the same categories. I then calculate the averages and share them here, along with the context behind the numbers. Honestly, your tastes might differ from what you’ll find in this Lombok digital nomad guide, and that’s perfectly okay. Use my scores and insights as a reference, and then align them with your own preferences.
Lombok digital nomad overview
Overall score: 8.5
If you crave a blend of nature and serenity in your everyday life, Lombok is the place for you. It’s not the place if you’re looking for big city life, easy public transport, or a crazy bustling social atmosphere. But if your perfect workday includes a good workout, a delicious iced coffee, some concentrated hours in a comfy air-conditioned spot, beuatiful sunsets and maybe catching a wave or two, well, this is it.
If you’re looking for more info on actually travelling to Lombok, check out my Lombok travel guide.
Best time of year to work from Lombok
Lombok is at its easiest in the dry season, May to September, when the days are pretty reliably sunny and the humidity is not so strong. The wet season (November to March) can still be beautiful, but you need to expect heavy showers and the occasional storm that takes over the whole afternoon. Shoulder months like April and October can be a sweet spot if you are flexible and don’t mind the odd dramatic downpour.
Where to base yourself as a digital nomad in Lombok
Lombok is not a one-base-fits-all island. Your experience will really change very dramatically depending on where you are.
Kuta Lombok (south coast): best all-round base for a month
Kuta makes the perfect base for exploring the south. You get chilled cafés, plenty of scooter rentals, gyms, and easy access to dreamy day trips and surfing beaches just a short scooter ride away.
It is also where you will find the best concentration of working-friendly cafés, coworking spaces and a great gym (shout out to Loka!).
Senggigi (west coast): easier logistics, resort energy
Senggigi is more classic “holiday strip”, with beachfront resorts and sunsets that do not require much effort. It can be a practical base if you want to be closer to Mataram and you prefer having more of that tourist infrastructure on your doorstep. It’s less design-led than Kuta, but it’s straightforward.
Tetebatu (central highlands): for slow work and proper rest
Tetebatu is green and quiet, with rice fields, waterfalls, and cooler air. It’s perfect for a reset or a slower stretch of work. For a full month, you need to be happy with fewer café options, more intentional logistics and likely slower wifi.
Where we stayed in Lombok
For our month, we based ourselves in Kuta and really it’s what I’d recommend for most people.
If you want the easiest version of Kuta life, choose somewhere central but not directly on the busiest strip for the noise. Our top pick from our time there is Villa Namu, a stylish, super comfortable option right in the heart of Kuta. It’s close enough that you can walk or scooter to cafés and dinner in minutes, but it still feels calm enough to properly switch off at night. They also have a lovely cafe on site which you can take away to your villa, perfect!
As a tip: Kuta has pockets of construction and a surprising range of noise levels street to street. A calm base makes your whole month easier so make sure you research in advance for any ongoing construction or proximity to bars.
Getting around Lombok
Lombok is a scooter island, especially if you are based in Kuta. A scooter makes day-to-day life simple, and it opens up the south coast in a way that taxis never quite can. From Kuta, you can reach beaches like Selong Belanak, Tanjung Aan, and quieter coves in under an hour. We rented ours from Tara Scooter Rental, which cost us around £100 for the month, loved them because they’ll also give you a lesson and make sure you’re feeling comfortable before you head off!
If you don’t ride scooters, it’s not impossible and you can still make Lombok work, but you will need to be more deliberate as the town itself is really not walkable generally. Choose accommodation central enough to walk to your daily cafés and gym, and plan driver days for beach hopping.
Detailed breakdown of Lombok for digital nomads
Food (9)
Kuta Lombok is easy to eat well in, which makes a month-long stay feel super effortless. You’ll find a steady mix of health-forward cafés, coffee spots that welcome laptops, and local warungs where lunch is quick and affordable. The longer you stay, the more you will appreciate having both options on rotation!
A few of our favourite spots in Lombok:
- Mama Pizza: Wood-fired sourdough pizza and classic Italian comfort dishes, usually buzzing in the evenings.
- BiteBox: A relaxed spot for local flavours, with a standout tempeh rendang when you want something properly Indonesian.
- Jelajah Coffee: A cosy specialty coffee stop with strong espresso and a genuinely work-friendly feel for a slow morning laptop session.
- Warung Lamina: A simple, friendly local warung for Lombok staples like ayam taliwang and plecing kangkung at proper budget prices.
- Papi Sapi: An industrial-tropical grill house where you pick your cut from the chiller and let the wood fire do the rest.
- Cantina Mexicana: A lively backyard-style cantina for corn tacos, punchy margaritas, and evenings that can turn unexpectedly social.
- Pawon Nusantara: A warm, homey Indonesian restaurant celebrating dishes from across the archipelago, including rendang and nasi campur favourites.
- Loka: Wellness-led café food done well, ideal for smoothie bowls, post-surf lunches, and refuelling after a gym session on-site.
Prices (8.5)
Lombok still feels like good value for a digital nomad base, particularly compared with Bali. For a rough sense of day-to-day costs in Kuta, a monthly scooter rental is often around Rp 1,400,000 to Rp 1,500,000, a coworking day pass can be about Rp 200,000 (or roughly Rp 2,100,000 for a month pass), and brunch prices at popular spots tend to sit around Rp 65,000 to Rp 90,000 per dish, with accommodation spanning widely depending on whether you choose a simple room or a private villa.
Fun activities (9)
Lombok is brilliant for after-work exploring and easy weekend adventures. Some of the best things we did were a day at Selong Belanak Beach, a snorkelling day trip out to the Secret Gilis, a weekend on Gili Air, and a north Lombok adventure spent chasing waterfalls and weaving through rice paddies. From Kuta you can still keep things simple on weekdays too: surf before work, beach hop between calls, hike to a sunset viewpoint, or take a short ride inland when you need a change of scenery.
Planning a trip to Gili Air? Check out my Gili Air travel guide.
Beauty (8.5)
The south coast is quietly cinematic, and you don’t have to go far from town to find viewpoints and coves that look untouched. Head inland and the landscape flips to rice paddies, rainforest edges and waterfall trails. Then there’s the Gilis, which are their own kind of pretty: clear, shallow water and soft sunsets (and turtles!).
Safety (9)
Day-to-day, Lombok feels calm and comfortable when you travel with the usual awareness. The main thing to respect is the road, even if you have loads of experience as chances are those around you don’t. I cannot stress enough how important it is to always wear a helmet and appropriate clothing!
Public transport (N/A)
From my own experience (and please do correct me if I’m wrong), public transport on Lombok is not really a thing – at least not in towns like Kuta. So for this I’ve added N/A and honestly I would say for a long stay here a scooter is a must!
Communication (9)
In Kuta and other tourist-facing areas, communication is easy. In cafés, accommodation and day trip settings, you will be understood, and you will quickly learn the small phrases that make daily life a lot more friendly.
Weather (8.5)
We visited in July, right in the middle of the dry season, and I’d say it’s the easiest time to work from Lombok: long, bright days with low risk of rain. Wet season can still be beautiful, but you need a flexible routine and proper backup plans.
Quietness (8)
Lombok has a naturally slower pace than many nomad hubs, but Kuta can be patchy street to street. Choose your accommodation carefully, stay slightly off the busiest strip, and you can have the best of both worlds! If you have the time, I also fully recommend heading north for a change of pace and a dose of gorgeous nature that feels worlds away from the south coast buzz.
Supermarkets (7)
You can cover the basics in Kuta without trouble, and we actually found it easier than expected thanks to Pepito Market, a small supermarket that stocked almost everything we needed (including fresh tempeh, yay!). For quick top-ups, there are also chains like Alfamart and Indomaret for essentials, plus the local market (Pasar Kuta) for fruit and produce.
Internet (8.5)
Internet can be very solid in the right villas and workspaces, but it really depends on where you stay, so my main advice is to check with your accommodation beforehand and read through recent reviews. Our Wi-Fi was very functional and only cut out a couple of times, but nothing dramatic. For a month, it is still worth having a local data plan as a backup for hotspot moments and meeting-heavy days.
FAQs
Where is the best place to stay in Lombok for remote work?
For most people, Kuta Lombok is the easiest first base. It has the best mix of cafés, coworking options, gyms, and day trips on the south coast, without the constant intensity of a bigger nomad hub.
Are there coworking spaces in Kuta Lombok?
Yes. The Spot is a reliable option with a quieter, air-conditioned focus room, and there are other spaces in and around Kuta if you prefer a more office-style setup. Day passes are commonly around 200,000 IDR, with weekly and monthly passes available.
Do I need to rent a scooter in Lombok?
If you are staying in Kuta, a scooter makes a huge difference to quality of life. Beaches and viewpoints are spread out, pavements are limited, and you will end up spending far more on drivers if you cannot ride. If you do not ride scooters, pick an accommodation central enough to reduce the number of trips you need.
Is Gili Air a good weekend from Kuta Lombok?
Yes. It is an easy change of pace with beachy, barefoot energy, great sunsets, and plenty of snorkelling. It is a good option when you want a proper break from the scooter-and-day-trip rhythm of south Lombok.
Is Lombok safe?
We felt comfortable day-to-day, but road safety is the main consideration. Wear a helmet, take it slowly, and avoid night riding until you are confident with the routes.
Final thoughts
Lombok is the kind of base that quietly nudges you into better habits. You walk a little more, you swim more often, and you end your workday with salt air instead of traffic noise. Even a simple evening plan feels restorative here, because the island does not ask much of you to feel like you have had a proper break.
If you choose your base well, go in with a sensible Wi-Fi back-up plan, and accept that scooters make life far easier, Lombok can be an excellent month-long stay. It is calm enough to get work done, beautiful enough to keep you inspired, and practical enough that your routine does not fall apart the moment the novelty wears off.
