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: $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
$7.72 IQD 10.1K
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
116.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.91 IQD 30.0K
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
-29.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 IQD 11.4K
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
71.20%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,095
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 IQD 628
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 288
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-68.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 IQD 2,629
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-32.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 IQD 2,722
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-45.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 IQD 1,789
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 IQD 1,056
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-68.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 IQD 2,351
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
50.42%
Eggs
$1.97 IQD 2,585
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
-18.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.57 IQD 9,916
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-48.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.79 IQD 6,274
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
14.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.95 IQD 18.3K
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
16.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,502
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-68.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,493
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-29.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 IQD 1,537
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-56.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,064
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-65.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 879
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-64.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 990
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-65.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 IQD 1,013
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-27.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 687
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73 IQD 3,576
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-12.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 IQD 16.0K
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-47.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 IQD 1,871
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-47.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 IQD 2,668
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 IQD 522
$0.29 Rp 5,010
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.69 IQD 41.5K
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
287.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.32 IQD 3,034
$0.45 Rp 7,834
415.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.30 IQD 3,013
$0.42 Rp 7,278
447.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 IQD 8,823
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
9.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 913
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-28.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$32.5K Rp 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)
$99.3 IQD 130.1K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
26.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.84 IQD 23.4K
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
351.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.52 IQD 38.7K
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
20.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.43 IQD 49.0K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-61.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 IQD 22.0K
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
164.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 IQD 15.0K
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
183.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 IQD 348.1K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-12.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,229 IQD 4.2M
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-50.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.39 IQD 43.7K
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-37.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
26.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 IQD 105.9K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-6.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 IQD 102.8K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$238 IQD 311.4K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-76.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 IQD 233.2K
$674 Rp 11.6M
-73.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 IQD 764.9K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-82.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$343 IQD 449.7K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-83.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakho
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 IQD 846.6K
$173 Rp 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.

Zakho vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities