Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 24% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Erbil is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-55.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-18.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-32.19%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-30.47%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$1.03 IQD 1,353

69.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.44 IQD 580

97.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-51.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$4.71 IQD 6,166

-4.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.27 IQD 1,657

27.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.83 IQD 1,083

180.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-33.93%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$1.79 IQD 2,345

22.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

119.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-29.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$1.13 IQD 1,483

228.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.10 IQD 1,443

44.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$1.23 IQD 1,612

85.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$0.82 IQD 1,068

137.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$0.70 IQD 911

172.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.69 IQD 905

237.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.74 IQD 969

36.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.55 IQD 723

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-11.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

83.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$1.69 IQD 2,217

43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$2.09 IQD 2,735

43.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.59 IQD 772

-54.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

-79.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$1.94 IQD 2,544

-75.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-76.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$6.56 IQD 8,588

-14.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.67 IQD 882

19.40%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

36.13%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

57.64%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$128 IQD 167.0K

-36.11%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

-53.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-34.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-13.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

28.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-61.10%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$309 IQD 405.1K

55.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

81.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

45.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-19.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

16.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

16.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$460 IQD 602.5K

142.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$297 IQD 389.4K

134.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$740 IQD 969.5K

391.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$432 IQD 566.1K

301.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

154.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

$665 IQD 870.8K

244.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$614 IQD 803.9K

-72.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

2.53

444.66%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $460 in Erbil. 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 265% higher in Erbil, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $44.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $204 in Erbil – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,652 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $44.00 in Erbil. 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 Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – 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 Erbil. 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.