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 $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $641 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,559 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $964 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,724 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,287 in Karbala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 117% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Karbala is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

$4.87 IQD 6,378

-28.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.88 Rp 563.4K

$15.32 IQD 20.1K

114.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 Rp 87.2K

$5.33 IQD 6,980

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

$1.62 IQD 2,115

69.75%

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

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

$0.39 IQD 516

253.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.30 IQD 394

136.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 Rp 49.3K

$1.88 IQD 2,458

53.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 Rp 66.3K

$2.90 IQD 3,795

33.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

$1.19 IQD 1,562

50.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 41.9K

$0.73 IQD 960

235.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

$1.45 IQD 1,895

-16.55%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

$1.72 IQD 2,253

38.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 Rp 251.9K

$5.11 IQD 6,695

187.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

$4.68 IQD 6,121

-9.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.08 Rp 206.9K

$9.59 IQD 12.6K

25.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 Rp 62.8K

$0.99 IQD 1,297

269.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.5K

$1.07 IQD 1,406

50.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

$0.90 IQD 1,178

202.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 38.9K

$0.66 IQD 862

243.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$0.68 IQD 885

179.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

$0.51 IQD 668

350.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

$0.60 IQD 787

70.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.3K

$0.58 IQD 764

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 Rp 55.6K

$1.94 IQD 2,541

67.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.06 Rp 412.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

$1.06 IQD 1,387

167.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

$2.17 IQD 2,840

28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,606

$0.37 IQD 481

-27.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.24 Rp 141.2K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-73.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,700

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-79.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,298

$1.48 IQD 1,931

-70.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 Rp 103.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-21.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

$0.49 IQD 639

75.51%

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

$26.1K Rp 446.6M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

131.19%

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

$31.7K Rp 543.2M

$14.7K IQD 19.2M

115.84%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

$71.4 IQD 93.5K

9.69%

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

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

-84.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.35 Rp 417.3K

$49.37 IQD 64.6K

-50.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

$22.67 IQD 29.7K

322.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.6K

$17.07 IQD 22.3K

-62.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

$8.80 IQD 11.5K

-54.43%

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

$302 Rp 5.2M

$128 IQD 167.1K

136.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,545 Rp 112.2M

$778 IQD 1.0M

741.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 915.5K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

212.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 Rp 660.6K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

169.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

$30.75 IQD 40.3K

189.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$32.28 IQD 42.3K

144.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

$257 IQD 336.6K

295.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 Rp 11.5M

$146 IQD 190.8K

361.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,368 Rp 57.7M

$351 IQD 459.2K

860.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 Rp 36.1M

$243 IQD 318.3K

767.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,001 Rp 51.4M

$958 IQD 1.3M

213.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 Rp 40.0M

$333 IQD 435.6K

602.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 Rp 3.0M

$477 IQD 623.9K

-62.75%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Karbala: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $257 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 168% 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 $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $15 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $140 – 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 117%, 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 $2,092 per month in Ubud, Bali and $962 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 $1,395 in Ubud, Bali and $641 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 280% 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 $641, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,395. 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.