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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $571 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $806 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,041 in Karbala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 141% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Karbala is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$5.05 IQD 6,619

-34.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

89.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$5.36 IQD 7,023

5.04%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.74 IQD 2,272

62.07%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.39 IQD 511

348.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.28 IQD 364

185.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$1.51 IQD 1,976

101.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$2.04 IQD 2,673

110.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.17 IQD 1,538

37.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.87 IQD 1,138

160.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.34 IQD 1,754

-12.69%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.57 IQD 2,058

38.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$6.45 IQD 8,441

173.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$3.98 IQD 5,210

1.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

15.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$0.95 IQD 1,243

281.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.10 IQD 1,435

49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$0.96 IQD 1,261

140.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.51 IQD 663

284.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.64 IQD 844

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.49 IQD 644

383.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.81 IQD 1,056

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.46 IQD 600

17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$1.93 IQD 2,531

19.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.54 IQD 2,020

51.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.24 IQD 2,934

37.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.36 IQD 475

-30.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

-18.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.50 IQD 1,961

-67.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$1.57 IQD 2,053

-70.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

-28.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.49 IQD 641

65.31%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$8,990 IQD 11.8M

178.21%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$16.9K IQD 22.1M

83.75%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$69.6 IQD 91.1K

18.94%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$24.50 IQD 32.1K

-73.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$39.26 IQD 51.4K

-52.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$23.09 IQD 30.2K

139.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

132.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$7.59 IQD 9,943

-43.35%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$145 IQD 189.3K

241.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$18.16 IQD 23.8K

154.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

155.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$30.45 IQD 39.9K

165.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$62.7 IQD 82.1K

25.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$153 IQD 200.7K

626.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

797.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$300 IQD 392.8K

1113.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$1,161 IQD 1.5M

137.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$154 IQD 201.8K

1388.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$395 IQD 516.8K

-57.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

37.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Karbala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $153 in Karbala. 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 136% higher in Karbala, 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 $19.00 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $145 – making Karbala 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 Karbala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, 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 $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $856 in Karbala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karbala, 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 $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $571 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Karbala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karbala, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Karbala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karbala – 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 Karbala. 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.