Budget in Flores

Part of the Flores travel guide — see every topic in All Flores Guides.

Flores is inexpensive to be in and expensive to cross. Homestays are 150,000–500,000 rupiah, a warung meal is 20,000–45,000, and there is almost nothing to spend money on in the highland towns. What costs is transport: a car with driver at 700,000–1,200,000 rupiah a day for a week, plus flights in and out of an island with thin air connections. A backpacker on public transport manages on 300,000–450,000 a day; a comfortable trip with a driver runs 1.2–2.5 million.

Accommodation and food

Homestays and simple guesthouses 150,000–500,000 rupiah across the island; mid-range hotels in Labuan Bajo, Bajawa, Ende and Maumere 500,000–1,200,000; a small number of better properties in Labuan Bajo and on the Maumere coast above that. Food: a warung plate is 20,000–45,000, a restaurant meal in Labuan Bajo 80,000–200,000, and almost everywhere else 30,000–70,000. Labuan Bajo is markedly more expensive than the rest of the island, which surprises people going east.

Transport

The dominant cost. A car with driver is 700,000–1,200,000 rupiah a day, plus fuel and the driver's accommodation and meals — confirm what is included. Over six days that is the single largest line in the budget and it is worth every rupiah on this road. Public buses and shared minivans between towns are 50,000–150,000 and take much longer. Flights from Denpasar are 700,000–2,500,000 each way, and the internal legs to Ende and Maumere add more.

Activities

Kelimutu entry is a national park fee, higher for foreigners and higher again at weekends. Village contributions at Bena and the Ngada settlements are modest. Wae Rebo is 350,000–600,000 per person for the overnight contribution, or 1.5–3 million as an organised package from Labuan Bajo. A Riung island-hopping boat is 500,000–900,000 per boat. A two-tank dive at Maumere is 900,000–1,500,000. Ikat cloth ranges from 300,000 to several million depending on how it was made.

Practicalities

Carry cash, and more than you think. ATMs are limited to the main towns, frequently empty, and cards are accepted essentially only in Labuan Bajo. Share the driver: the same car costs the same for one person or four, which makes Flores dramatically cheaper as a pair or a group. Take public transport for one or two legs if budget is tight and time is not. And note that Labuan Bajo prices are Komodo prices — the rest of the island is a different economy.

Budget at a glance

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