Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and As Samawah

For one person, living is cheaper in As Samawah: $644 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
As Samawah
🇮🇶 Iraq
$644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in As Samawah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in As Samawah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $644 in As Samawah.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • As Samawah $644

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,050 in As Samawah.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • As Samawah $1,050

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,456 in As Samawah.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • As Samawah $1,456

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 112% more expensive than in As Samawah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, As Samawah is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$4.36 IQD 6,593
-23.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$29.34 IQD 44.3K
19.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$6.51 IQD 9,844
-10.91%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.79 IQD 4,215
-2.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$0.31 IQD 474
429.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.16 IQD 237
418.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$3.21 IQD 4,850
-15.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$3.39 IQD 5,118
26.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$0.94 IQD 1,422
59.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$0.63 IQD 959
265.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.35 IQD 2,046
-12.59%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$1.56 IQD 2,356
37.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$1.29 IQD 1,953
1255.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$4.21 IQD 6,360
-4.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$11.93 IQD 18.0K
2.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$0.97 IQD 1,464
265.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$0.98 IQD 1,482
60.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$0.83 IQD 1,251
169.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$0.42 IQD 640
359.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$0.51 IQD 776
268.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$0.55 IQD 836
316.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.55 IQD 826
80.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.62 IQD 939
-14.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.69 IQD 2,552
34.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$6.42 IQD 9,703
258.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.89 IQD 2,858
23.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$1.90 IQD 2,875
53.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.47 IQD 709
-48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$19.97 IQD 30.2K
-55.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$2.03 IQD 3,070
-76.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$1.35 IQD 2,034
-65.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$2.72 IQD 4,106
100.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$0.57 IQD 862
54.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$16.5K IQD 25.0M
48.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$16.7K IQD 25.2M
86.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$71.3 IQD 107.8K
16.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$16.32 IQD 24.7K
-60.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$16.39 IQD 24.8K
13.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$36.23 IQD 54.7K
54.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$16.66 IQD 25.2K
8.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$7.97 IQD 12.0K
-45.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$50.2 IQD 75.9K
881.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$1,315 IQD 2.0M
337.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$24.56 IQD 37.1K
88.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$27.74 IQD 41.9K
27.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$58.2 IQD 88.0K
35.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$41.02 IQD 62.0K
91.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$175 IQD 264.3K
553.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$133 IQD 201.6K
406.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$168 IQD 254.3K
1981.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$308 IQD 465.6K
451.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$794 IQD 1.2M
250.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$623 IQD 942.0K
259.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
As Samawah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.12
234.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
As Samawah
$133 80.3% $542
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
As Samawah
$143 50.9% $148
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
As Samawah
$113 3.5% $3.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
As Samawah
$104 3.7% $4
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
As Samawah
$68 36.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
As Samawah
$52 19.2% $12
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
As Samawah
$31 144% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $175 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in As Samawah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $143 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇶 As Samawah
🕒 Local time
03:16 3:16 AM
22:16 10:16 PM
5 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
250,000
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali As Samawah 8,640 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • As Samawah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is As Samawah cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,051 in Ubud, Bali and $966 in As Samawah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and As Samawah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $175 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 126% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $50.2 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in As Samawah?
At $644 in As Samawah versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or As Samawah more family-friendly?
For families, As Samawah 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, Ubud, Bali or As Samawah?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and As Samawah 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 As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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