🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $749 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,184 in Sulaymaniyah versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,619 in Sulaymaniyah versus $3,708 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 46% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sulaymaniyah is 44% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.41IQD 7,088
$3.40Rp 60.2K
59.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.49IQD 34.7K
$32.38Rp 573.6K
-18.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.04IQD 9,215
$5.00Rp 88.6K
40.80%
Cappuccino
$2.58IQD 3,381
$2.82Rp 50.0K
-8.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 483
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-73.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 231
$0.73Rp 13.0K
-75.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07IQD 2,715
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-30.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68IQD 3,506
$3.97Rp 70.3K
-32.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48IQD 1,939
$1.79Rp 31.8K
-17.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01IQD 1,329
$2.46Rp 43.7K
-58.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61IQD 2,108
$1.20Rp 21.2K
34.17%
Eggs
$1.71IQD 2,243
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-28.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09IQD 7,980
$14.40Rp 255.1K
-57.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42IQD 4,483
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-20.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.95IQD 18.3K
$11.82Rp 209.4K
18.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23IQD 1,605
$3.78Rp 67.0K
-67.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29IQD 1,685
$1.63Rp 28.9K
-20.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32IQD 1,734
$2.80Rp 49.6K
-52.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70IQD 913
$2.26Rp 40.0K
-69.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63IQD 824
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-68.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 835
$2.21Rp 39.2K
-71.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56IQD 728
$1.07Rp 18.9K
-47.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48IQD 629
$0.76Rp 13.5K
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87IQD 2,443
$3.13Rp 55.4K
-40.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.28IQD 14.8K
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-52.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56IQD 2,049
$2.84Rp 50.3K
-45.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83IQD 2,400
$2.78Rp 49.2K
-34.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55IQD 721
$0.27Rp 4,726
103.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.58IQD 29.6K
$8.37Rp 148.2K
169.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33IQD 3,052
$0.45Rp 8,034
417.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24IQD 2,934
$0.43Rp 7,578
420.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.43IQD 7,109
$5.98Rp 105.9K
-9.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.73IQD 955
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-8.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KIQD 26.7M
$25.8KRp 457.2M
-21.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KIQD 27.7M
$31.8KRp 563.4M
-33.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.1IQD 99.7K
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.53IQD 21.7K
$4.14Rp 73.3K
299.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.77IQD 35.0K
$24.12Rp 427.2K
10.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.77IQD 52.1K
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-59.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13IQD 22.4K
$6.64Rp 117.7K
157.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84IQD 10.3K
$4.04Rp 71.5K
94.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149IQD 195.7K
$297Rp 5.3M
-49.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,533IQD 4.6M
$6,590Rp 116.7M
-46.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.67IQD 31.0K
$55.1Rp 976.8K
-57.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.30IQD 33.1K
$38.51Rp 682.1K
-34.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.64IQD 57.1K
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-49.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.54IQD 46.5K
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-54.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239IQD 313.4K
$985Rp 17.5M
-75.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176IQD 230.4K
$665Rp 11.8M
-73.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574IQD 751.0K
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-83.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350IQD 458.1K
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-82.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$816IQD 1.1M
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-71.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$588IQD 769.5K
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-74.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sulaymaniyah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$574IQD 752.3K
$169Rp 3.0M
239.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
13.28
-32.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Sulaymaniyah and $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sulaymaniyah pays 239% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $299 per month, with Sulaymaniyah 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
Sulaymaniyah vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Sulaymaniyah?
Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sulaymaniyah or Ubud, Bali?
Sulaymaniyah pays 239% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Sulaymaniyah and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Sulaymaniyah versus $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Sulaymaniyah or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Sulaymaniyah vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $749 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sulaymaniyah or Ubud, Bali?
At $749 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sulaymaniyah but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sulaymaniyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sulaymaniyah or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Sulaymaniyah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Sulaymaniyah or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Sulaymaniyah 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sulaymaniyah vs other spots: cost of living compared