🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Zakho versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,278 in Zakho versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Zakho versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Zakho costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zakho is 36% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.73IQD 10.1K
$3.44Rp 60.9K
124.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.26IQD 58.0K
$36.31Rp 643.0K
21.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.17IQD 10.7K
$5.71Rp 101.0K
43.08%
Cappuccino
$3.81IQD 4,993
$2.67Rp 47.3K
42.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07IQD 1,403
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-38.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41IQD 538
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-52.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14IQD 8,037
$2.95Rp 52.3K
108.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57IQD 5,983
$4.52Rp 80.0K
1.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27IQD 1,657
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-21.60%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,069
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-64.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76IQD 2,308
$1.11Rp 19.6K
58.56%
Eggs
$1.77IQD 2,317
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-19.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19IQD 10.7K
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-53.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52IQD 7,228
$4.10Rp 72.5K
34.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.97IQD 19.6K
$12.18Rp 215.6K
22.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.10IQD 1,439
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-70.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11IQD 1,457
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-30.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23IQD 1,614
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-46.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80IQD 1,042
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-58.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74IQD 973
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-61.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73IQD 958
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-68.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80IQD 1,046
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-20.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59IQD 772
$0.55Rp 9,773
7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45IQD 3,211
$2.23Rp 39.5K
9.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.65IQD 16.6K
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-45.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70IQD 2,231
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-29.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06IQD 2,697
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-31.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,814
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96IQD 2,570
$0.48Rp 8,566
308.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79IQD 2,341
$0.43Rp 7,679
316.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.61IQD 8,654
$5.64Rp 99.9K
17.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68IQD 892
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KIQD 23.2M
$24.9KRp 441.7M
-29.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KIQD 25.9M
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-37.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127IQD 166.0K
$81.5Rp 1.4M
55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60IQD 17.8K
$6.49Rp 115.0K
109.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07IQD 36.8K
$18.77Rp 332.4K
49.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.44IQD 15.0K
$4.54Rp 80.4K
151.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$317IQD 414.5K
$481Rp 8.5M
-34.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,093IQD 4.1M
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-45.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.48IQD 39.9K
$45.52Rp 806.0K
-33.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.73IQD 25.8K
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-45.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.6IQD 66.2K
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.77IQD 52.1K
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-49.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$115IQD 151.2K
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-89.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$223IQD 291.7K
$698Rp 12.4M
-68.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315IQD 412.6K
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-91.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$276IQD 361.1K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-84.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$657IQD 860.6K
$168Rp 3.0M
291.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.53
13.78
-81.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Zakho and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zakho pays 291% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Zakho vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $295, with Zakho cheaper for home cooking.
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
Zakho vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zakho or Ubud, Bali?
Zakho wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zakho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zakho or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 291% higher in Zakho, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Zakho compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $115 in Zakho versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Zakho or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Zakho compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Zakho versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Zakho or in Ubud, Bali?
At $879 in Zakho versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zakho but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zakho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zakho or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zakho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $879 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zakho hard to pass up.
How safe is Zakho compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Zakho and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zakho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.