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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $661 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $973 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,284 in Karbala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 113% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Karbala is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.2K

$5.06 IQD 6,623

-29.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 584.3K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

114.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.4K

$5.25 IQD 6,881

-7.43%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.58 IQD 2,071

74.05%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$0.36 IQD 474

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.30 IQD 395

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.3K

$1.94 IQD 2,538

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.2K

$2.79 IQD 3,653

35.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.7K

$1.13 IQD 1,475

51.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.5K

$0.70 IQD 912

252.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

$1.44 IQD 1,891

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.9K

$1.80 IQD 2,360

35.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 258.5K

$5.00 IQD 6,548

187.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.4K

$4.70 IQD 6,155

-8.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 219.5K

$9.57 IQD 12.5K

27.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.2K

$0.99 IQD 1,301

271.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.04 IQD 1,364

49.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$0.92 IQD 1,205

203.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$0.68 IQD 889

242.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

$0.64 IQD 841

207.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

$0.50 IQD 659

362.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.60 IQD 791

76.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.58 IQD 759

25.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.9K

$1.96 IQD 2,572

67.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 409.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.4K

$1.01 IQD 1,323

178.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 50.0K

$2.09 IQD 2,733

33.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,234

$0.39 IQD 511

-25.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.9K

$30.63 IQD 40.1K

-73.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,073

$2.27 IQD 2,974

-80.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,121

$1.48 IQD 1,939

-69.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 112.1K

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-20.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

$0.51 IQD 674

66.67%

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

$26.0K Rp 467.0M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

125.25%

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

$31.7K Rp 569.0M

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

121.86%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.5M

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

11.04%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$24.73 IQD 32.4K

-83.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 439.0K

$49.57 IQD 64.9K

-50.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.8M

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

320.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.9K

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

-62.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.6K

$9.05 IQD 11.8K

-55.36%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$126 IQD 165.1K

141.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 119.0M

$769 IQD 1.0M

761.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 974.9K

$17.18 IQD 22.5K

215.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 697.0K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

181.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$30.58 IQD 40.0K

181.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$32.20 IQD 42.2K

138.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$251 IQD 328.7K

292.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$148 IQD 193.9K

344.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.6M

$346 IQD 453.1K

873.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.1M

$244 IQD 319.0K

748.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.3M

$1,157 IQD 1.5M

136.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 40.0M

$152 IQD 198.8K

1367.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$395 IQD 516.8K

-58.59%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Karbala: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $251 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 141% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $138 – 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 113%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $991 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $661 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 $661, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.