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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $674 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,091 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,508 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 107% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$3.98 IQD 5,211
-10.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$24.68 IQD 32.3K
30.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$7.02 IQD 9,188
-28.63%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$2.58 IQD 3,374
9.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.40 IQD 519
237.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.21 IQD 274
247.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$2.99 IQD 3,917
-2.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$2.82 IQD 3,693
39.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.81 IQD 2,374
-1.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.79 IQD 1,029
210.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.08 IQD 1,408
6.48%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$1.51 IQD 1,977
59.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$4.58 IQD 5,995
212.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$4.64 IQD 6,071
-9.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$12.96 IQD 17.0K
-6.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$0.87 IQD 1,136
318.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.10 IQD 1,442
42.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$0.91 IQD 1,189
206.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$0.36 IQD 477
522.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$0.75 IQD 987
164.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$0.34 IQD 451
570.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.68 IQD 893
54.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.43 IQD 564
83.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$1.97 IQD 2,575
61.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$1.86 IQD 2,432
55.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$2.14 IQD 2,803
28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.40 IQD 521
-32.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$30.59 IQD 40.1K
-72.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.61 IQD 2,105
-72.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.53 IQD 2,007
-69.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$5.83 IQD 7,633
4.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$0.31 IQD 399
177.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
41.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$20.1K IQD 26.3M
62.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$76.2 IQD 99.7K
3.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$17.79 IQD 23.3K
-77.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$34.10 IQD 44.6K
-30.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$22.64 IQD 29.6K
336.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$16.61 IQD 21.7K
-61.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$7.46 IQD 9,772
-46.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$152 IQD 198.4K
96.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$3,223 IQD 4.2M
104.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$27.00 IQD 35.4K
97.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$25.67 IQD 33.6K
48.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$60.1 IQD 78.7K
47.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$41.26 IQD 54.0K
85.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$322 IQD 421.1K
217.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$134 IQD 175.5K
407.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$447 IQD 585.4K
676.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$347 IQD 454.1K
502.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$564 IQD 738.9K
383.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Al-'amarah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$506 IQD 662.0K
-67.62%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $322 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 209% 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 $32.00 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
Is Al-'amarah cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,010 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Al-'amarah?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Al-'amarah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Al-'amarah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $674, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Al-'amarah more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Al-'amarah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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