😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $459 in Sinjar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $673 in Sinjar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $888 in Sinjar.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 200% more expensive than in Sinjar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Sinjar is 67% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$2.34IQD 3,071
42.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$9.41IQD 12.3K
280.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$8.53IQD 11.2K
-34.00%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$0.73IQD 954
286.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$0.37IQD 479
372.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.21IQD 279
280.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$1.12IQD 1,473
171.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$1.88IQD 2,457
128.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$0.78IQD 1,026
106.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$0.72IQD 947
215.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$0.78IQD 1,026
50.00%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$1.78IQD 2,336
21.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$2.26IQD 2,964
680.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$4.47IQD 5,859
-9.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$12.40IQD 16.2K
-1.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$0.73IQD 957
395.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$0.75IQD 979
118.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$0.73IQD 958
216.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$0.74IQD 968
164.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$0.71IQD 933
159.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$0.68IQD 896
248.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$0.77IQD 1,014
36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$0.36IQD 478
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$1.92IQD 2,518
19.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$7.68IQD 10.1K
200.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.12IQD 1,466
108.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$1.95IQD 2,551
57.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$1.89IQD 2,473
-74.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$1.82IQD 2,382
-74.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$6.39IQD 8,373
-12.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.35IQD 462
131.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$18.1KIQD 23.7M
38.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$20.2KIQD 26.4M
54.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$46.18IQD 60.5K
79.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$14.11IQD 18.5K
-54.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$27.50IQD 36.0K
-31.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$11.61IQD 15.2K
375.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
$38.74IQD 50.7K
-52.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$11.25IQD 14.7K
-61.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$318IQD 415.8K
55.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$3,073IQD 4.0M
92.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$11.59IQD 15.2K
299.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$11.22IQD 14.7K
224.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$70.6IQD 92.4K
14.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$67.0IQD 87.7K
17.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$54.4IQD 71.2K
1948.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$38.49IQD 50.4K
1701.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sinjar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$228IQD 298.3K
-26.65%
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 6, 2026
Last update for Sinjar: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sinjar pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $9.00 in Sinjar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $142 per month, with Sinjar cheaper across the board.
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 Sinjar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Sinjar?
Ubud, Bali and Sinjar differ by about 200% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $459 including rent). Sinjar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Sinjar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Sinjar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 106% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Sinjar?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $459 in Sinjar – a 200% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $459 in Sinjar versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sinjar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sinjar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Sinjar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sinjar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Sinjar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Sinjar?
Expats usually find Sinjar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared