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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.79 IQD 4,959
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
9.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.30 IQD 33.1K
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
-21.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 IQD 8,831
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
39.26%
Cappuccino
$2.03 IQD 2,656
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
-26.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 IQD 612
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-65.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 IQD 452
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
-53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.72 IQD 4,866
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
24.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 IQD 3,391
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
-32.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 IQD 1,608
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-29.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 IQD 922
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
-71.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 IQD 1,906
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
24.79%
Eggs
$1.88 IQD 2,467
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
-22.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 IQD 10.8K
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
-43.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.93 IQD 9,071
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
59.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.13 IQD 17.2K
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
9.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 IQD 1,370
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
-71.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 IQD 1,756
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-17.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 IQD 1,316
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
-63.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 IQD 774
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
-73.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 894
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
-64.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 789
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
-73.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 IQD 1,022
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
-26.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 IQD 542
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-43.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 IQD 2,559
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
-40.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.18 IQD 17.3K
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-43.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 IQD 3,957
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
8.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 IQD 5,139
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
43.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 479
$0.27 Rp 4,765
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.11 IQD 30.3K
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
184.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 IQD 2,992
$0.48 Rp 8,636
375.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 IQD 2,957
$0.42 Rp 7,511
438.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.93 IQD 9,071
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
11.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 IQD 732
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-30.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.1K IQD 17.2M
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
-50.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K IQD 29.6M
$32.2K Rp 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)
$56.7 IQD 74.2K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-27.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.66 IQD 33.6K
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
530.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.60 IQD 50.5K
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
58.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.33 IQD 47.6K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-63.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.54 IQD 20.4K
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
145.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
95.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.0 IQD 128.3K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-67.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,807 IQD 5.0M
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
-42.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.66 IQD 55.9K
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
-21.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.58 IQD 27.0K
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
-45.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.1 IQD 91.9K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.08 IQD 53.8K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-46.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 IQD 582.7K
$992 Rp 17.7M
-55.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$136 IQD 178.0K
$673 Rp 12.0M
-79.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 IQD 1.2M
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-73.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 IQD 851.8K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
-68.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,605 IQD 2.1M
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
-42.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$783 IQD 1.0M
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
-64.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basra
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$752 IQD 985.3K
$167 Rp 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.

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