Land is much cheaper east of Bali — from about USD 12–75 per m² on Sumbawa’s surf coast to USD 185–490 per m² in Lombok’s Mandalika core — but demand is far thinner and remote builds cost more. Bali has about 3.6 hotel rooms for every 1,000 annual visitors, against roughly 8.6 in Lombok and 17 in Sumba, so fewer rooms out east does not mean tighter supply. Information only.
What does land cost on each island?
| Zone | USD per m² |
|---|---|
| Lombok — Mandalika core | 185–490 |
| Lombok — Selong Belanak | 92–215 |
| Sumba — west beachfront | 55–130 |
| Sumbawa — west-coast surf | 12–75 |
So a 1,000 m² plot would be roughly USD 185,000–490,000 in the Mandalika core, USD 55,000–130,000 on Sumba’s west beachfront and USD 12,000–75,000 on Sumbawa’s surf coast. These are asking-price indications from island brokers and guides in 2025–26, not completed sales. Information only.
Cheaper land — so is there more room for a new hotel?
| Destination | Visitors per year | Rooms | Rooms per 1,000 visitors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | 16.55M | ~59,500 | 3.6 |
| Lombok (NTB) | ~2.1M | ~18,000 | 8.6 |
| Sumba | ~35k | ~600 (est.) | ~17 |
Not necessarily. “Rooms per 1,000 visitors” is a simple way to see how many beds are competing for each guest: the lower the number, the more guests each room has to draw on. Bali has 3.6; Lombok has more than twice that, and Sumba nearly five times. Bali’s demand per room is the deepest by far. Information only.
Is building cheaper too?
Usually not. On Sumba almost everything is shipped in, which pushes build costs 40–60% above Bali — so a villa that would cost USD 200,000 to build in Bali could cost roughly USD 280,000–320,000 there. Lombok is the exception: mid-range builds are close to Bali prices (about IDR 10–14 million per m²), with labour around 30% cheaper.
Also budget for what Bali gives you by default — reliable water, power, roads and trained staff. For Bali’s own figures, see villa build costs in 2026. Illustrative — not financial advice.
Can a foreigner own land there?
Not freehold, anywhere in Indonesia. The workable structures are Hak Pakai (a right to use) or HGB (a right to build), held through a PT PMA, each running to about 80 years in total with extensions.
East of Bali there is an extra check: customary (adat) claims by local communities. Verify title twice as hard. See how foreigners hold property. Not legal advice.
Is there real demand yet?
- Lombok — Mandalika. The government zone has realised about IDR 6 trillion (≈ USD 370 million) of investment, with Pullman and Novotel open, though occupancy runs around 45%. Land along the corridor has risen 18–22% a year for four years.
- Sumbawa. The west-coast airport was permitted only in late 2025, with about three charter flights a week.
- Sumba. The best lodges charge USD 400+ a night into a market of about 35,000 visitors a year.
These are rate plays, not volume plays. The earlier the island, the stronger the project’s own evidence of demand has to be. Information only.
How financing works on each island: Lombok · Labuan Bajo and Komodo · Sumba and Sumbawa.
Sources: Island brokers and guides, 2025–26 (asking prices); BPS and provincial tourism data as reported. Illustrative. General information about the Indonesian market, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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