🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $893 in Zakho versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Zakho versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Zakho costs roughly 38% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zakho is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72IQD 10.1K
$3.57Rp 61.6K
116.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.91IQD 30.0K
$32.58Rp 562.6K
-29.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68IQD 11.4K
$5.07Rp 87.5K
71.20%
Cappuccino
$3.13IQD 4,095
$2.83Rp 48.8K
10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48IQD 628
$1.34Rp 23.1K
-64.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 288
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-68.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01IQD 2,629
$2.99Rp 51.6K
-32.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08IQD 2,722
$3.85Rp 66.4K
-45.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37IQD 1,789
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-21.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81IQD 1,056
$2.54Rp 43.8K
-68.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79IQD 2,351
$1.19Rp 20.6K
50.42%
Eggs
$1.97IQD 2,585
$2.43Rp 41.9K
-18.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57IQD 9,916
$14.66Rp 253.2K
-48.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79IQD 6,274
$4.18Rp 72.1K
14.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.95IQD 18.3K
$11.94Rp 206.1K
16.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,502
$3.69Rp 63.6K
-68.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,493
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-29.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,537
$2.69Rp 46.4K
-56.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,064
$2.33Rp 40.2K
-65.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67IQD 879
$1.91Rp 32.9K
-64.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76IQD 990
$2.19Rp 37.7K
-65.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77IQD 1,013
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-27.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52IQD 687
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73IQD 3,576
$3.13Rp 54.1K
-12.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.23IQD 16.0K
$23.49Rp 405.6K
-47.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43IQD 1,871
$2.74Rp 47.3K
-47.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04IQD 2,668
$2.88Rp 49.7K
-29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 522
$0.29Rp 5,010
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.69IQD 41.5K
$8.17Rp 141.0K
287.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32IQD 3,034
$0.45Rp 7,834
415.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.30IQD 3,013
$0.42Rp 7,278
447.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.74IQD 8,823
$6.16Rp 106.3K
9.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70IQD 913
$0.84Rp 14.5K
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$26.2KRp 453.1M
-28.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KIQD 26.7M
$32.5KRp 560.8M
-37.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.3IQD 130.1K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
26.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.84IQD 23.4K
$3.95Rp 68.2K
351.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.52IQD 38.7K
$24.40Rp 421.4K
20.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.43IQD 49.0K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-61.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78IQD 22.0K
$6.35Rp 109.6K
164.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46IQD 15.0K
$4.04Rp 69.7K
183.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266IQD 348.1K
$303Rp 5.2M
-12.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,229IQD 4.2M
$6,523Rp 112.6M
-50.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.39IQD 43.7K
$53.8Rp 929.5K
-37.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02IQD 62.9K
$37.98Rp 655.8K
26.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.8IQD 105.9K
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-6.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5IQD 102.8K
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$238IQD 311.4K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-76.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178IQD 233.2K
$674Rp 11.6M
-73.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584IQD 764.9K
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-82.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343IQD 449.7K
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-83.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646IQD 846.6K
$173Rp 3.0M
273.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
13.28
-57.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zakho pays 273% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Zakho vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $298 per month, with Zakho 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
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 61% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Zakho pays 273% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Zakho versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Zakho and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $266 in Zakho versus $303 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Zakho or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Zakho or Ubud, Bali?
At $893 in Zakho versus $1,438 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 $893 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 61% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.