Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Baghdad versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Baghdad costs roughly 26% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Baghdad is 21% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.48 IQD 7,181
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
53.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.97 IQD 48.4K
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
12.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.57 IQD 9,909
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
52.93%
Cappuccino
$3.06 IQD 4,003
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
12.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 518
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-70.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 242
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-74.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 IQD 4,485
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
17.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 IQD 3,853
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-25.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 IQD 1,726
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-27.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 IQD 1,017
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-69.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 IQD 2,166
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
42.24%
Eggs
$1.79 IQD 2,350
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-27.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 IQD 5,763
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-70.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 IQD 6,636
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
17.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 IQD 18.8K
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
18.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,612
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-67.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 IQD 1,530
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 IQD 1,329
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-64.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 922
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-69.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 911
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-63.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 835
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-70.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 822
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-37.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 IQD 871
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 IQD 2,765
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-36.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 IQD 17.5K
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-43.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 IQD 2,301
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-36.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 IQD 2,815
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-24.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 IQD 1,027
$0.27 Rp 4,800
188.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.60 IQD 37.4K
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
256.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.88 IQD 5,087
$0.46 Rp 8,150
743.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 IQD 1,923
$0.45 Rp 8,037
226.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
28.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 IQD 737
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-29.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K IQD 26.6M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-22.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K IQD 26.1M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-38.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 IQD 237.4K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
126.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.40 IQD 33.3K
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
525.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.16 IQD 52.6K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
70.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 IQD 54.1K
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-58.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.43 IQD 24.1K
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
177.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
88.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 IQD 213.2K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-46.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,573 IQD 4.7M
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-45.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.57 IQD 37.4K
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-48.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.72 IQD 40.2K
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-19.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.4 IQD 83.0K
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-28.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.53 IQD 57.0K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-44.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 IQD 707.6K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-46.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 IQD 420.5K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-52.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 IQD 1.1M
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-76.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$580 IQD 759.9K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-71.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,034 IQD 5.3M
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
41.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,617 IQD 2.1M
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-28.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$642 IQD 841.2K
$165 Rp 3.0M
288.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
13.28
-57.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 289% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $302, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Baghdad vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baghdad or Ubud, Bali?
Baghdad wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baghdad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Baghdad or Ubud, Bali?
Baghdad pays 289% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baghdad vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $540 in Baghdad versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Baghdad vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Baghdad runs roughly 256% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Baghdad and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $163 in Baghdad versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Baghdad or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,054 in Baghdad versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baghdad but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Baghdad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baghdad or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baghdad delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,054 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baghdad hard to pass up.
How safe is Baghdad compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Baghdad and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baghdad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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