🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Mashhad versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Mashhad versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,703 in Mashhad versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mashhad costs roughly 39% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mashhad is 36% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.50IQD 7,205
$3.45Rp 62.0K
59.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.68IQD 46.7K
$32.34Rp 580.1K
10.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48IQD 9,799
$4.84Rp 86.9K
54.55%
Cappuccino
$2.98IQD 3,900
$2.75Rp 49.3K
8.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 512
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-71.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 284
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-70.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38IQD 4,423
$2.99Rp 53.7K
13.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94IQD 3,849
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-23.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,735
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-24.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83IQD 1,081
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-66.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60IQD 2,101
$1.17Rp 21.0K
36.75%
Eggs
$0.87IQD 1,134
$2.43Rp 43.6K
-64.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39IQD 5,747
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-69.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.03IQD 2,657
$4.35Rp 78.0K
-53.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.03IQD 3,966
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-74.71%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97IQD 1,275
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-73.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,528
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-28.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,324
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-63.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72IQD 947
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-67.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70IQD 913
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-63.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68IQD 893
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-70.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29IQD 376
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-72.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17IQD 228
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.77IQD 1,013
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-76.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.54IQD 17.7K
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-41.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83IQD 2,393
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10IQD 2,748
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37IQD 484
$0.27Rp 4,778
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.56IQD 41.3K
$8.11Rp 145.4K
289.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.91IQD 5,114
$0.48Rp 8,659
714.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,018
$0.42Rp 7,532
266.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.52IQD 9,848
$6.22Rp 111.6K
20.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 747
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KIQD 26.7M
$26.6KRp 477.4M
-23.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-39.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177IQD 232.4K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
126.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.31IQD 34.5K
$4.07Rp 73.0K
546.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.77IQD 52.1K
$24.33Rp 436.4K
63.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.85IQD 48.3K
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-62.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48IQD 21.6K
$6.34Rp 113.7K
159.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62IQD 9,977
$3.99Rp 71.5K
90.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166IQD 216.8K
$305Rp 5.5M
-45.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,570IQD 4.7M
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-46.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.86IQD 37.8K
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-46.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.13IQD 40.8K
$37.81Rp 678.2K
-17.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.2IQD 85.4K
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-24.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.92IQD 56.2K
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-43.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247IQD 322.8K
$992Rp 17.8M
-75.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 236.6K
$673Rp 12.1M
-73.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584IQD 764.5K
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-82.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341IQD 447.0K
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-83.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$167Rp 3.0M
-
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 Mashhad: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Mashhad and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Mashhad vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $130 vs $297, with Mashhad 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
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 64% in total monthly costs ($859 vs $1,408 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 $1,289 in Mashhad and $2,112 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mashhad and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $247 in Mashhad versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mashhad and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $166 in Mashhad versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 128% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $859 in Mashhad versus $1,408 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 64% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.