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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $655 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $964 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,272 in Karbala, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 112% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.3K

$5.05 IQD 6,611

-29.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 581.4K

$15.25 IQD 20.0K

111.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.1K

$5.34 IQD 6,993

-6.18%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.8K

$1.65 IQD 2,157

70.91%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

$0.37 IQD 482

264.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.30 IQD 394

143.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 52.8K

$1.95 IQD 2,550

50.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 70.8K

$2.93 IQD 3,833

34.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

$1.18 IQD 1,548

50.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$0.69 IQD 909

255.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.50 IQD 1,961

-23.33%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.4K

$1.72 IQD 2,251

40.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 257.8K

$5.10 IQD 6,674

180.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.3K

$4.88 IQD 6,395

-14.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 216.9K

$9.71 IQD 12.7K

24.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

$0.92 IQD 1,209

295.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$1.08 IQD 1,410

45.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$0.98 IQD 1,287

184.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.68 IQD 887

229.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

$0.67 IQD 879

195.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$0.54 IQD 706

322.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.57 IQD 742

84.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.63 IQD 828

25.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.4K

$1.94 IQD 2,538

64.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 422.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$1.03 IQD 1,343

181.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.6K

$2.16 IQD 2,824

27.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,796

$0.40 IQD 518

-32.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 150.5K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-72.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,138

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-80.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,269

$1.54 IQD 2,017

-70.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.2K

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-22.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.48 IQD 631

79.17%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.3M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

134.74%

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

$32.5K Rp 585.6M

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

127.38%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$72.5 IQD 95.0K

8.93%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.6K

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

-83.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 429.0K

$49.76 IQD 65.2K

-52.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$22.79 IQD 29.8K

333.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.3K

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

-61.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

$9.05 IQD 11.8K

-55.69%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$128 IQD 168.2K

131.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 118.8M

$793 IQD 1.0M

732.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 961.1K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

215.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 685.7K

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

174.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

185.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$32.10 IQD 42.0K

138.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.3M

$255 IQD 333.5K

300.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.2M

$145 IQD 190.2K

368.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.4M

$352 IQD 461.5K

884.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.6M

$245 IQD 321.3K

751.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.1M

$1,153 IQD 1.5M

136.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.3M

$154 IQD 201.4K

1392.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 2.9M

$394 IQD 516.3K

-58.49%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Karbala: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $15.00 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $141 – 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 112%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $983 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $655 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 267% 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 $655, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.