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