🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $640 in Mashhad versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in Mashhad versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,223 in Mashhad versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mashhad costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mashhad is 53% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67IQD 6,120
$3.44Rp 60.8K
35.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.11IQD 44.7K
$36.31Rp 642.1K
-6.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65IQD 10.0K
$5.71Rp 100.9K
33.98%
Cappuccino
$3.08IQD 4,035
$2.67Rp 47.2K
15.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 519
$1.75Rp 30.9K
-77.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24IQD 312
$0.87Rp 15.4K
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.88IQD 5,082
$2.95Rp 52.2K
31.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89IQD 5,088
$4.52Rp 79.9K
-13.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05IQD 1,371
$1.62Rp 28.6K
-35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,076
$2.33Rp 41.2K
-64.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58IQD 2,067
$1.11Rp 19.6K
42.34%
Eggs
$0.81IQD 1,063
$2.20Rp 38.9K
-63.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.80IQD 4,981
$17.69Rp 312.8K
-78.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.04IQD 2,676
$4.10Rp 72.4K
-50.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.92IQD 3,820
$12.18Rp 215.3K
-76.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,325
$3.71Rp 65.5K
-72.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,467
$1.59Rp 28.1K
-29.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98IQD 1,281
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-57.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 889
$1.95Rp 34.5K
-65.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67IQD 873
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-64.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 837
$2.33Rp 41.2K
-72.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31IQD 407
$1.01Rp 17.8K
-69.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 274
$0.55Rp 9,759
-61.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.76IQD 996
$2.23Rp 39.5K
-65.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.55IQD 17.7K
$23.07Rp 408.0K
-41.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14IQD 2,799
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-11.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26IQD 2,954
$3.00Rp 53.0K
-24.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,807
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 158.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25IQD 2,947
$0.48Rp 8,554
368.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51IQD 1,979
$0.43Rp 7,668
251.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.52IQD 9,851
$5.64Rp 99.8K
33.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65IQD 857
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KIQD 24.8M
$24.9KRp 441.1M
-24.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9KIQD 24.8M
$31.7KRp 560.7M
-40.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215IQD 281.7K
$81.5Rp 1.4M
164.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.21IQD 27.8K
$6.49Rp 114.8K
226.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.34IQD 55.4K
$18.77Rp 331.9K
125.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 331.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.60IQD 13.9K
$4.54Rp 80.2K
133.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165IQD 216.6K
$481Rp 8.5M
-65.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,514IQD 4.6M
$5,711Rp 101.0M
-38.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.67IQD 38.8K
$45.52Rp 804.9K
-34.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11IQD 49.9K
$35.88Rp 634.5K
6.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5IQD 97.6K
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.47IQD 60.9K
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-40.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$698Rp 12.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,637Rp 64.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,737Rp 30.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,784Rp 49.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$168Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.12
13.78
-70.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mashhad: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Mashhad vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $127 vs $295 per month, with Mashhad 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
Mashhad vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mashhad and in Ubud, Bali?
Mashhad and Ubud, Bali differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($640 vs $1,368 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mashhad compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $960 in Mashhad and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mashhad and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $165 in Mashhad versus $481 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $640 in Mashhad versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mashhad and Ubud, Bali?
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 Mashhad or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mashhad 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.
Where should expats move: Mashhad or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.