Information as of August 2026
In this article
- ✓The visa types to consider for a long stay or two-base life on Lombok (with points to check)
- ✓A rough guide to living costs: rent, food, mobile data and more
- ✓What Wi-Fi and mobile coverage are really like, and what to watch for in rural areas like Sekotong
- ✓How to find a place to live, and what to check before signing
The short answer
For a long stay or two-base life on Lombok, visas, living costs and connectivity are all areas where information and choices are not as well developed as in urban Bali. We suggest starting with a short stay to get to know the place, then planning step by step, checking the rules with the immigration office or a professional.
In recent years, a growing number of people have been avoiding Bali’s crowds and rising prices and making its neighbour a base for long stays or two-base living. If you are new to the island, our overview, Lombok: The Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and Highlights, is a good place to start. We at Semelar Beach Village run a stay programme in Sekotong, in south-west Lombok, and we are often asked about long stays by people considering them. This article sets out objective information from four angles: visas, living costs, connectivity and finding a home.
First, a caveat: we are not visa or legal experts. This article is a general summary of public information, not legal advice. Visa and residence rules change often, and wrong information can cause real problems, so please check the specific conditions and fees yourself on the official website of the Indonesian immigration authority (imigrasi.go.id) or with a local visa agent or legal adviser.
Why consider a long stay or two-base life on Lombok
Lombok is only about 30 minutes from Bali by plane, yet many parts of the island remain little developed. Low population density and easy access to quiet beaches and countryside are among the reasons people who stay for several weeks to several months are starting to take notice. Areas in the south-west such as Sekotong are said to be relatively easy on the budget because they are not yet heavily touristed, but infrastructure and access to information are also more limited than in the towns.
“Long stay” can mean many things, from a few weeks of workation to a two-base life over several years, or even a future move. The visa you need and the preparation required depend on your purpose, so it helps to first work out how long and how often you want to stay. For basic information on the area, see Sekotong Complete Guide: A Hidden Corner of South-West Lombok.
Visa options for a long stay
For a long stay in Indonesia, the main options are said to be the tourist Visa on Arrival (VOA) and its extension, the Social-Cultural visa (such as the B211A), the Second Home visa, and the KITAS for work or posting. Each has different purposes and conditions, and the rules are revised fairly often. The table below is an overview based on public information; please check the detailed conditions and required documents on the official immigration website or with a visa agent.
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| Visa type (common name) | Guide to length of stay | Main use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa on Arrival (VOA) + extension | 30 days + 30-day extension (about 60 days in total) | Short tourist stays and trial visits | Check the official website |
| Social-Cultural visa (B211A, etc.) | 60 days, and with repeated extensions about a few months is said to be the guide | Stays of several months, visiting relatives, etc. | Check the official website |
| Second Home visa | Said to run for several years (multi-year) | For long-stay residents who meet the financial requirements | Check the official website |
| KITAS (temporary stay permit) | Said to be up to 1 year (renewable) | Work, posting, representatives of local companies, etc. | Check the official website |
* A guide based on general information (as of August 2026). Rules may change, so always check official sources.
Figure: Visa types to consider for a long stay
None of these visas is a simple “get this and anyone can stay long-term” option. Whether one suits you depends on your purpose, your finances and the rules at the time you apply. For the Second Home visa in particular, where a high financial requirement is expected, we suggest asking a visa agent in advance whether you can meet the conditions. Overstaying (staying beyond your permitted period) is said to carry penalties such as fines and re-entry restrictions, so it is also important to start extension procedures with time to spare.
A rough guide to living costs
Across Lombok as a whole, living costs are said to be lower than in Bali’s popular areas. However, the figures below are general guides for the whole island, not measured data specific to Sekotong. They vary a lot with the area and your lifestyle, so please use them as a reference only. Dollar amounts are approximate, at about US$1 = Rp17,800 (September 2026).
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| Item | Monthly guide (rupiah) | Monthly guide (US$, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (basic private or shared room) | Rp1,500,000–2,500,000 | About US$84–140 |
| Rent (private room with air-conditioning and private bathroom) | Rp3,000,000–5,000,000 | About US$169–281 |
| Food (mainly local eateries) | About Rp1,400,000–2,300,000 | About US$79–129 |
| Mobile data (about 30–50 GB a month) | Rp100,000–200,000 | About US$6–11 |
| Scooter rental (monthly) | Rp800,000–1,200,000 | About US$45–67 |
* General guides for the whole of Lombok, not data specific to Sekotong. Exchange rates are approximate (US$1 = about Rp17,800, September 2026).
Figure: Rough breakdown of monthly living costs on Lombok
Estimated from the midpoint of each range (as of August 2026; general guide for the whole of Lombok)
Simply adding up the ranges above (basic-room rent, food, mobile data and transport), you get roughly Rp3.8–6.2 million a month (about US$210–350). Once you add eating out, activities and medical insurance, it is safer to allow a wider margin. We are continuing to gather information locally on living costs and plan to update this article once we can confirm more.
Wi-Fi and mobile coverage
Connectivity is a big concern for many people planning a long stay or workation. On Lombok you can fairly easily get online by buying a SIM card at the airport on arrival or using an eSIM. In main areas such as Kuta Lombok and Senggigi, coworking spaces and cafes are increasing, and the environment for everyday online work is said to be improving.
In rural areas like Sekotong, calls and data can often be used in villages and along the main roads, but the signal may be weak or slow in some places. We do not yet have enough systematically measured data on each carrier’s speed in Sekotong, and people’s experiences differ. We will not claim that video meetings work comfortably; instead, we suggest coming prepared without relying on a single connection (a power bank, SIM cards from more than one carrier, a spare pocket Wi-Fi, and so on).
How to find a place to live
The main ways to look for a place to live on Lombok for a long stay are as follows.
The first is a local real estate agent. Lombok has property websites and agents that handle rentals and sales. The second is Facebook groups and other social media communities: groups with names like “Lombok Expats” sometimes share rental and living information. The third is to search in person while staying on the island, walking around the area where you would like to live and finding places through signs and word of mouth. Whichever way you search, we recommend visiting in person before signing to check the condition of the property and the utilities (water, electricity and connectivity).
When signing, check the contents of the contract (term, cancellation conditions, how the deposit is handled and so on) in English or, if possible, in the original Indonesian; do not proceed on a verbal promise alone; and compare several properties and agents. If you have any concerns about the terms, we strongly recommend checking with a local lawyer or a trustworthy agent before signing.
Things to keep in mind
- Access to medical care: In rural parts of Lombok, including Sekotong, there are few large general hospitals, and in an emergency you may need to travel to a hospital some distance away, such as in Mataram city. We strongly recommend having travel or medical insurance.
- Language barrier: English works to some extent in everyday situations, but official procedures and contracts often require Indonesian, so it is reassuring to have an interpreter or local support you can call on.
- Unreliable infrastructure: Power cuts and water outages can happen, so it is safer not to assume the same reliability as in the towns.
- The risk of judging visas on your own: Misunderstanding the rules or overstaying can lead to fines and re-entry restrictions, so always check with a professional or official sources.
🏝️ A word from Sekotong
Compared with Kuta Lombok or Senggigi, Sekotong is still not an area where information and services for long-stay residents are well developed. That is exactly why life here is quiet and close to the local community. We plan to keep updating this article little by little with what we can confirm on the ground about housing, connectivity and living costs (as of August 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I stay long-term on Lombok on a tourist visa?
The tourist Visa on Arrival (VOA) is said to allow about 60 days in total even with an extension, and a longer stay is said to require considering a different visa category. The exact conditions may change, so please check with the official immigration website or a visa agent.
Q. How much of a monthly budget do I need to live on Lombok?
It depends on the grade of housing and how often you eat out, but about Rp3.8–6.2 million a month (roughly US$210–350) for rent, food, mobile data and transport combined is one guide. It is wise to budget separately for medical insurance and leisure. This is a general guide for the whole of Lombok, not data specific to Sekotong.
Q. Can I take online meetings without problems in Sekotong too?
We cannot say for certain. You can often get a connection in villages and along the main roads, but speeds may be unstable in some places. If you have an important meeting, we suggest having more than one way to connect.
Q. Where should I start when looking for a place to live?
It is common to check things out first on a short stay while gathering information from local real estate agents and social media communities of local residents. Always visit in person before signing, and check the condition of the property and the contents of the contract.
Related reading
- Lombok: The Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and HighlightsOur main article with basic information on the whole of Lombok. Please read it first before planning a long stay.
- Sekotong Complete Guide: A Hidden Corner of South-West LombokA detailed look at the appeal of Sekotong, where we are based, and how to get there.
Summary
A long stay or two-base life on Lombok has real appeal in its quiet environment and relatively modest living costs, but there are also challenges to face honestly: understanding the visa rules, unreliable connectivity, and limited access to medical care. Visa rules in particular change often, so do not take the information here at face value. Check the latest details with the official immigration website or a professional, and start with a short stay before moving forward step by step.
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
You can stay in the Sekotong village where we live
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. A stay programme where you sleep in a seaside villa, tour the islands by a boatman’s boat and watch the sunset at SAKURA CAFE.
Sources used for this article
- Indonesian immigration authority (imigrasi.go.id) official website (always check the official site for the latest visa and residence information)
- B211A Visa Indonesia 2026 – Complete Application & Extension Guide (indonesianvisas.com) (as of August 2026)
- Lombok Visa Guide 2026 — VOA, Extensions & Requirements (lomboq.com) (as of August 2026)
- 2026最新｜インドネシアのセカンドホームビザ（長期滞在）に必要な書類 (propertyaccess.jp) (Japanese-language source, as of August 2026)
- インドネシアビザ完全ガイド【2026年版】 (asean-jp.info) (Japanese-language source, as of August 2026)
- Cost of Living in Lombok 2026 — Detailed Price Breakdown (lomboq.com) (as of August 2026)
- 日本人のリタイア移住先として注目のインドネシアのロンボク島 (okuman-go.jp) (Japanese-language source, as of August 2026)
- Sharing of connectivity and everyday-life impressions by our local members in Sekotong (August 2026)
