🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Basra versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Basra costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Basra is 45% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79IQD 4,959
$3.45Rp 61.8K
9.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.30IQD 33.1K
$32.34Rp 578.5K
-21.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.74IQD 8,831
$4.84Rp 86.7K
39.26%
Cappuccino
$2.03IQD 2,656
$2.75Rp 49.1K
-26.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47IQD 612
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-65.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35IQD 452
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.72IQD 4,866
$2.99Rp 53.5K
24.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59IQD 3,391
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-32.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23IQD 1,608
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-29.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70IQD 922
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-71.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46IQD 1,906
$1.17Rp 20.9K
24.79%
Eggs
$1.88IQD 2,467
$2.43Rp 43.5K
-22.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26IQD 10.8K
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-43.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.93IQD 9,071
$4.35Rp 77.8K
59.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.13IQD 17.2K
$11.98Rp 214.3K
9.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05IQD 1,370
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-71.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34IQD 1,756
$1.63Rp 29.1K
-17.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00IQD 1,316
$2.74Rp 49.1K
-63.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59IQD 774
$2.24Rp 40.1K
-73.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 894
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-64.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60IQD 789
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-73.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78IQD 1,022
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-26.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41IQD 542
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-43.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95IQD 2,559
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-40.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.18IQD 17.3K
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-43.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.02IQD 3,957
$2.78Rp 49.7K
8.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92IQD 5,139
$2.73Rp 48.9K
43.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37IQD 479
$0.27Rp 4,765
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.11IQD 30.3K
$8.11Rp 145.0K
184.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28IQD 2,992
$0.48Rp 8,636
375.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26IQD 2,957
$0.42Rp 7,511
438.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93IQD 9,071
$6.22Rp 111.3K
11.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56IQD 732
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-30.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.1KIQD 17.2M
$26.6KRp 476.1M
-50.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KIQD 29.6M
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-29.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.7IQD 74.2K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-27.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.66IQD 33.6K
$4.07Rp 72.8K
530.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.60IQD 50.5K
$24.33Rp 435.2K
58.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.33IQD 47.6K
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-63.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.54IQD 20.4K
$6.34Rp 113.3K
145.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82IQD 10.2K
$3.99Rp 71.3K
95.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.0IQD 128.3K
$305Rp 5.5M
-67.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,807IQD 5.0M
$6,642Rp 118.8M
-42.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.66IQD 55.9K
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-21.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.58IQD 27.0K
$37.81Rp 676.3K
-45.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1IQD 91.9K
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.08IQD 53.8K
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-46.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445IQD 582.7K
$992Rp 17.7M
-55.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136IQD 178.0K
$673Rp 12.0M
-79.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908IQD 1.2M
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-73.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$650IQD 851.8K
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-68.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,605IQD 2.1M
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-42.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783IQD 1.0M
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-64.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752IQD 985.3K
$167Rp 3.0M
350.64%
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 Basra: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basra pays 351% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $297 per month, with Basra 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
Basra vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Basra and in Ubud, Bali?
Basra and Ubud, Bali differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($739 vs $1,408 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Basra or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 351% higher in Basra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Basra and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Basra versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $739 in Basra versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Basra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Basra and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Basra or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Basra 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.
Where should expats move: Basra or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.