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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $571 per month in Karbala vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $806 per month in Karbala vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Karbala vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Karbala is about 59% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Karbala sits 59% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.05 IQD 6,619

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

51.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-47.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 IQD 7,023

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-4.80%

Cappuccino

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-38.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 511

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-77.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 IQD 364

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-65.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-50.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-52.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 IQD 1,538

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-27.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 IQD 1,138

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-61.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,754

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

14.53%

Eggs

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-27.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.45 IQD 8,441

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-63.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 IQD 5,210

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-13.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 IQD 1,243

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-73.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,435

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,261

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-58.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 663

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-73.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-65.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 644

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-79.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 600

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

-16.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 IQD 2,020

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-34.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 IQD 2,934

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-27.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.25 Rp 4,365

44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

22.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,961

$0.49 Rp 8,631

206.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 IQD 2,053

$0.47 Rp 8,349

234.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

40.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 IQD 641

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-39.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,990 IQD 11.8M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-64.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.9K IQD 22.1M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-45.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.6 IQD 91.1K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-15.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.50 IQD 32.1K

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

277.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.26 IQD 51.4K

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

108.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.09 IQD 30.2K

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-58.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

-57.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 IQD 9,943

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

76.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$145 IQD 189.3K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-70.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.16 IQD 23.8K

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-60.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-60.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.45 IQD 39.9K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-62.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 IQD 82.1K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-20.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.7K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-86.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-88.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 IQD 392.8K

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-91.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 IQD 1.5M

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-57.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$154 IQD 201.8K

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-93.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 IQD 516.8K

$167 Rp 2.9M

136.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-27.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karbala: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Karbala versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 136% higher in Karbala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Karbala versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $294 – making Karbala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Karbala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $856 per month in Karbala and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karbala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $571 in Karbala and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Karbala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karbala, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Karbala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karbala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Karbala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.