🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Baghdad costs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Baghdad is 20% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.30IQD 6,947
$3.45Rp 61.8K
53.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.81IQD 48.2K
$32.34Rp 578.5K
13.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78IQD 10.2K
$4.84Rp 86.7K
60.74%
Cappuccino
$3.11IQD 4,074
$2.75Rp 49.1K
13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 522
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-71.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 233
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-76.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49IQD 4,576
$2.99Rp 53.5K
16.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82IQD 3,686
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-26.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31IQD 1,722
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-24.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84IQD 1,100
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-65.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64IQD 2,152
$1.17Rp 20.9K
40.17%
Eggs
$1.81IQD 2,364
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-25.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52IQD 5,923
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-68.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.86IQD 6,364
$4.35Rp 77.8K
11.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.16IQD 18.5K
$11.98Rp 214.3K
18.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23IQD 1,615
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-66.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,519
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-28.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04IQD 1,366
$2.74Rp 49.1K
-62.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 984
$2.24Rp 40.1K
-66.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 843
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 873
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-70.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63IQD 828
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-40.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66IQD 858
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07IQD 2,707
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-37.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.33IQD 17.5K
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-42.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80IQD 2,354
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-35.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11IQD 2,762
$2.73Rp 48.9K
-22.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74IQD 965
$0.27Rp 4,765
174.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.86IQD 36.5K
$8.11Rp 145.0K
243.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.72IQD 4,870
$0.48Rp 8,636
675.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,026
$0.42Rp 7,511
269.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.49IQD 9,803
$6.22Rp 111.3K
20.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53IQD 700
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-34.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KIQD 26.2M
$26.6KRp 476.1M
-24.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-36.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175IQD 229.3K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
123.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.17IQD 34.3K
$4.07Rp 72.8K
543.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.52IQD 53.1K
$24.33Rp 435.2K
66.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.04IQD 55.1K
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-57.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.31IQD 24.0K
$6.34Rp 113.3K
188.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.49IQD 9,813
$3.99Rp 71.3K
87.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166IQD 217.8K
$305Rp 5.5M
-45.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,526IQD 4.6M
$6,642Rp 118.8M
-46.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.00IQD 36.7K
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-48.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12IQD 39.4K
$37.81Rp 676.3K
-20.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.9IQD 83.7K
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-26.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.06IQD 56.4K
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-43.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$548IQD 717.9K
$992Rp 17.7M
-44.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$323IQD 422.7K
$673Rp 12.0M
-52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834IQD 1.1M
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-75.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597IQD 781.1K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-70.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,734IQD 6.2M
$2,805Rp 50.2M
68.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,570IQD 2.1M
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-29.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$629IQD 823.2K
$167Rp 3.0M
276.54%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baghdad pays 277% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $297, 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 32% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 277% higher in Baghdad, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $548 in Baghdad versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Baghdad compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Baghdad runs roughly 244% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $305 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,066 in Baghdad versus $1,408 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 $1,066 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 32% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.