Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.73 IQD 10.1K
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
124.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.26 IQD 58.0K
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
21.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.17 IQD 10.7K
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
43.08%
Cappuccino
$3.81 IQD 4,993
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
42.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 IQD 1,403
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-38.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 IQD 538
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
-52.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 IQD 8,037
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
108.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 IQD 5,983
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
1.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 IQD 1,657
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-21.60%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 IQD 1,069
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-64.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 IQD 2,308
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
58.56%
Eggs
$1.77 IQD 2,317
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
-19.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 IQD 10.7K
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-53.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 IQD 7,228
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
34.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 IQD 19.6K
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
22.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 IQD 1,439
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
-70.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 IQD 1,457
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
-30.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,614
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
-46.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 IQD 1,042
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
-58.97%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 IQD 973
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
-61.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 IQD 958
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-68.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 IQD 1,046
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
-20.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 IQD 772
$0.55 Rp 9,773
7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45 IQD 3,211
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
9.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.65 IQD 16.6K
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-45.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 IQD 2,231
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-29.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 IQD 2,697
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-31.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,814
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 IQD 2,570
$0.48 Rp 8,566
308.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 IQD 2,341
$0.43 Rp 7,679
316.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 IQD 8,654
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
17.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 IQD 892
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
-15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K IQD 23.2M
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
-29.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K IQD 25.9M
$31.7K Rp 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)
$127 IQD 166.0K
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60 IQD 17.8K
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
109.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 IQD 36.8K
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
49.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.44 IQD 15.0K
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
151.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$317 IQD 414.5K
$481 Rp 8.5M
-34.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,093 IQD 4.1M
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
-45.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.48 IQD 39.9K
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
-33.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.73 IQD 25.8K
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-45.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.6 IQD 66.2K
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.77 IQD 52.1K
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-49.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$115 IQD 151.2K
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-89.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$223 IQD 291.7K
$698 Rp 12.4M
-68.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$315 IQD 412.6K
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-91.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 361.1K
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-84.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 IQD 860.6K
$168 Rp 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.

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