The internet says you need thousands of dollars to stay on Gili trawangan for just a few days, it’s actually not that much!
I'm a local, and let me give you an idea of how much you'll need to budget for your time on Gili Trawangan.
Tables below show how much you can expect to spend daily on Gili Trawangan in the high season. These do not include the cost of boat and flight tickets.
Note: assuming backpackers stay in hostels and eat at local restaurants.
Solo budget
| # | Item | Mid-range | Backpacker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation | $34 | $10 |
| 2 | Food | $40 | $5 |
| 3 | Transport | $4 | $4 |
| 4 | Total | $78 | $19 |
Couple budget
| # | Item | Mid-range | Backpacker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation | $34 | $20 |
| 2 | Food | $80 | $10 |
| 3 | Transport | $8 | $8 |
| 4 | Total | $122 | $38 |
I'll give you a breakdown of the costs including the flight cost, boat cost, and activities you might be interested in during your time on Gili Trawangan.
Accommodation Cost
Unless you're going for the fancy ones, hotels on Gili Trawangan are almost always fully booked. So it's better to book your room in advance before heading to the island.
Hotels on Gili Trawangan tend to be more expensive compared to Bali. For a similar price, you might end up with a slightly lower quality room on Gili Trawangan compared to what you could get in Bali.
During the holiday season, the average cost of a hotel room on Gili Trawangan is around $34 USD or IDR 500,000 per night, which will typically give you a decent room with a spacious bed.
Alternatively, if you opt for a hostel, the cost during the high season is around $10 USD or IDR 150,000 per person per night.
Food Cost
If you find yourself eating three meals a day or even more, food expenses are likely to be the biggest drain on your budget during your holiday in Bali or Gili Trawangan.
When it comes to food prices, Gili Trawangan is pretty much on par with Bali. You can expect a range of prices in restaurants, starting from around $3 and going up to $20 USD.
To save some money while on Gili Trawangan, I recommend trying out local restaurants that serve authentic local cuisine.
You can get a hearty plate of rice with various side dishes for just $1 to $2 USD. They'll fill you up, no doubt!
Warung Dewi and Warung Sasak are two well-known local restaurants on the island, check them out on Google Maps below.
For a real budget-friendly option, you can't go wrong with trying the nasi bungkus or wrapped rice from the food stalls near the jetty. It'll cost you less than a dollar.
Transport Cost
If you haven't heard yet, the Gili islands don't allow motorized vehicles on the islands. So your choices for getting around are either a bicycle or a horse-cart.
Tourists usually rely on the horse-carts, also called Cidomos, to transport their luggage from the jetty to their hotels because these carts can handle a ton of stuff.
As for getting around Gili Trawangan, most tourists prefer bicycles. Walking is also common but it can be pretty exhausting 😮💨 I've tried it myself.
To get a bicycle, you can simply rent one from your hotel. And if you're looking for a Cidomo, you'll spot them hanging around near the jetty area.
🚲 Bicycle: $4 USD per day
🦄 Cidomo: $10 USD to a destination
I have a full article about how to get around the island if you want to check it out.
I didn’t include the horse-cart cost in the tables above because not everyone uses it. Only if your hotel is far away on the north or west and maybe definitely you should use it.
Activity Cost
Gili Trawangan is packed with loads of fun activities to try out, and here's a list of them along with their costs. Note that the prices might change.
Swimming gear: $3.5 USD IDR 50,000
Surf board: $6.3 USD IDR 100,000
Surf lesson: $34 USD IDR 500,000 for 2-hour
Kayak: $10 USD IDR 150,000 per hour
Stand up paddle board: $10 USD IDR 150,000 per hour
Glass bottom boat tour: $34 USD IDR 500,000 for 2-hour
Diving with manta: $272 USD IDR 4,050,000
Diving with shark: $272 USD IDR 4,050,000
Cooking class: $19 USD IDR 290,000
Massage: $10 USD IDR 150,000
Flight, Taxi & Boat Costs
Just talking about the staying costs may not cover everything you need to know. Some of you might be interested in knowing the overall expenses, including flight tickets and boat costs for your travel to and from the destination.
So, here are the taxi, boat and average flight ticket prices during the high season.
Note: prices listed below are for travel and return journeys
Flight cost
SydneyBali: $700 USD
LondonBali: $1,400 USD
Los AngelesBali: $2,500 USD
Taxi cost
Bali airportPadang Bai harbor: $60 USD IDR 900,000
Ferry cost
Padang Bai harborGili Trawangan: $60 USD IDR 900,000
Prices I mentioned above are for a single person except for taxis, which can accommodate up to four people.
Misc
Prices for a couple of other things you might want to know:
Juice: $1.2 USD IDR 20,000
Smoothie: $2 USD IDR 30,000
Beer: $4 USD IDR 60,000
Island hopping: $1.5 USD IDR 23,000
Souvenir: $3.2 USD IDR 50,000
T-shirt: $3.2 USD IDR 50,000
Swimming: Free
FAQs
Gili Trawangan is a bit pricier compared to Bali, but you won't really notice the difference unless you're extremely budget-conscious.
Gili Trawangan is considered affordable for many Western tourists who earn in dollars, but it's not as cheap as destinations like Thailand or the Philippines.
