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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 401% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.89 IQD 2,477

82.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$4.49 IQD 5,883

27.17%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-40.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.74 IQD 965

214.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.93 IQD 1,214

19.35%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.49 IQD 1,945

47.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$0.75 IQD 978

394.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.16 IQD 1,519

37.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$0.79 IQD 1,029

188.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.26 IQD 340

650.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.79 IQD 1,029

141.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.40 IQD 519

482.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.56 IQD 733

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$2.31 IQD 3,030

-79.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.33 IQD 431

142.42%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

-30.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

86.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$152 IQD 198.5K

635.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$115 IQD 150.3K

507.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$195 IQD 254.9K

1768.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$578 IQD 757.5K

381.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$501 IQD 655.6K

-66.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $152 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 198% higher in Al-'amarah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 401%, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $409 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 326% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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.