Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $681 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,090 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,499 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 111% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$3.95 IQD 5,175

-9.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$24.93 IQD 32.7K

30.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$6.95 IQD 9,106

-27.05%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.57 IQD 3,369

10.12%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.37 IQD 481

262.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.19 IQD 250

263.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.87 IQD 3,756

4.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.81 IQD 3,678

37.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.75 IQD 979

238.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.09 IQD 1,427

9.17%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.50 IQD 1,963

62.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$4.41 IQD 5,774

232.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.69 IQD 6,150

-10.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$13.07 IQD 17.1K

-8.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$0.86 IQD 1,122

329.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.08 IQD 1,415

49.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$0.89 IQD 1,168

202.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.39 IQD 517

497.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.74 IQD 971

158.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$0.34 IQD 450

544.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.62 IQD 817

70.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.47 IQD 618

53.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$1.85 IQD 2,430

69.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.82 IQD 2,385

50.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.10 IQD 2,752

37.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.37 IQD 479

-21.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-73.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.69 IQD 2,214

-73.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.55 IQD 2,025

-72.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$6.16 IQD 8,067

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.33 IQD 434

154.55%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

36.25%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

62.27%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$78.3 IQD 102.6K

0.17%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

-77.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

-30.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$22.48 IQD 29.4K

329.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

-62.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

-47.40%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$150 IQD 196.3K

101.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$3,269 IQD 4.3M

99.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$26.78 IQD 35.1K

101.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

49.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

40.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

92.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$320 IQD 419.8K

215.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$130 IQD 170.2K

419.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$446 IQD 584.3K

660.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$343 IQD 449.7K

511.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$574 IQD 752.3K

419.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$505 IQD 661.2K

-65.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

5.67

134.22%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $320 in Al-'amarah. 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 192% higher in Al-'amarah, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $153 – making Al-'amarah 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

Ubud, Bali vs Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 111%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,022 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 95% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.