🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,148 in Baghdad versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Baghdad versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Baghdad versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Baghdad costs roughly 18% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Baghdad is 16% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.81IQD 6,302
$3.37Rp 59.8K
42.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.76IQD 44.2K
$38.59Rp 683.8K
-12.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.68IQD 10.1K
$5.52Rp 97.8K
39.13%
Cappuccino
$3.07IQD 4,018
$2.64Rp 46.9K
16.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 520
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-76.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26IQD 342
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-66.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89IQD 5,091
$2.63Rp 46.7K
47.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75IQD 4,906
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-12.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09IQD 1,424
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-29.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83IQD 1,091
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-62.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53IQD 2,005
$1.13Rp 19.9K
35.40%
Eggs
$1.89IQD 2,473
$2.09Rp 37.0K
-9.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.80IQD 4,971
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-78.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.58IQD 5,992
$3.87Rp 68.5K
18.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.59IQD 19.1K
$12.55Rp 222.4K
16.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,492
$3.62Rp 64.1K
-68.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07IQD 1,399
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-31.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06IQD 1,391
$2.35Rp 41.7K
-54.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74IQD 971
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-64.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66IQD 860
$1.90Rp 33.7K
-65.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 843
$2.34Rp 41.4K
-72.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63IQD 827
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-38.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70IQD 920
$0.55Rp 9,830
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83IQD 2,400
$2.25Rp 39.9K
-18.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.65IQD 17.9K
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-42.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21IQD 2,890
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-4.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18IQD 2,861
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-22.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65IQD 854
$0.27Rp 4,827
140.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.62IQD 29.6K
$8.66Rp 153.5K
161.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32IQD 3,037
$0.48Rp 8,533
383.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,025
$0.45Rp 7,904
244.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79IQD 10.2K
$5.72Rp 101.4K
36.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61IQD 801
$0.76Rp 13.4K
-19.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KIQD 24.9M
$24.5KRp 433.9M
-22.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.1M
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-40.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213IQD 278.8K
$83.6Rp 1.5M
154.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.99IQD 27.5K
$6.46Rp 114.4K
224.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.26IQD 55.3K
$18.99Rp 336.6K
122.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.87IQD 61.4K
$56.0Rp 992.0K
-16.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.00IQD 28.8K
$18.62Rp 329.9K
18.15%
Cinema Ticket
$10.57IQD 13.8K
$4.28Rp 75.9K
146.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165IQD 216.6K
$487Rp 8.6M
-66.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,462IQD 4.5M
$5,856Rp 103.8M
-40.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.18IQD 39.5K
$45.56Rp 807.4K
-33.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.06IQD 49.8K
$36.38Rp 644.7K
4.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9IQD 95.5K
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-11.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.63IQD 62.4K
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-40.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575IQD 753.1K
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-48.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350IQD 457.9K
$701Rp 12.4M
-50.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$959IQD 1.3M
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-72.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687IQD 899.8K
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-61.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,743IQD 6.2M
$2,826Rp 50.1M
67.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,576IQD 2.1M
$2,292Rp 40.6M
-31.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$604IQD 791.2K
$170Rp 3.0M
255.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.12
13.78
-70.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baghdad: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Baghdad and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baghdad pays 256% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $293 per month, with Baghdad cheaper across the board.
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 22% 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 256% 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: $575 in Baghdad versus $1,117 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 161% 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 $165 in Baghdad versus $487 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 $1,148 in Baghdad versus $1,396 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 $1,148 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 22% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.