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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $842 in Mashhad versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Mashhad versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,718 in Mashhad versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 41% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mashhad is 37% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.22 IQD 6,839
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
46.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.92 IQD 47.0K
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
9.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.60 IQD 9,956
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
53.54%
Cappuccino
$3.08 IQD 4,038
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
13.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 474
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-73.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 IQD 225
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-75.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 IQD 4,554
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
19.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 IQD 3,704
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-28.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 IQD 1,777
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-24.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 IQD 1,035
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-68.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 IQD 2,180
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
43.97%
Eggs
$0.87 IQD 1,143
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-64.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 IQD 5,750
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-70.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.01 IQD 2,636
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-53.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.94 IQD 3,848
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-75.78%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 IQD 1,284
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-74.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 IQD 1,519
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-25.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,274
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-65.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 882
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-71.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 IQD 854
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-65.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 830
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-71.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 IQD 411
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-69.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 IQD 296
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-70.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.78 IQD 1,028
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-76.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.70 IQD 17.9K
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-42.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 IQD 2,355
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-35.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,834
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-24.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 IQD 477
$0.27 Rp 4,800
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.16 IQD 40.8K
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
288.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 IQD 5,045
$0.46 Rp 8,150
736.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 IQD 1,928
$0.45 Rp 8,037
226.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 IQD 10.2K
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
27.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.53 IQD 699
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-32.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K IQD 25.9M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-24.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K IQD 26.4M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-37.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 IQD 230.6K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
120.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.50 IQD 33.4K
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
528.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.29 IQD 52.8K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
71.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.45 IQD 47.7K
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-63.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.58 IQD 21.7K
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
150.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71 IQD 10.1K
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
85.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 IQD 216.9K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-45.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,528 IQD 4.6M
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-46.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.65 IQD 37.5K
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-48.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.05 IQD 39.3K
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-21.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 IQD 84.0K
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-27.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.33 IQD 56.7K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-44.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 IQD 315.7K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-76.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 IQD 236.0K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-73.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 IQD 770.9K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-82.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 IQD 446.7K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-83.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Mashhad and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Mashhad vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $131 vs $302, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Mashhad and Ubud, Bali differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($842 vs $1,419 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 $1,263 in Mashhad and $2,129 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Mashhad versus $1,006 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 $304 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 131% 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 $842 in Mashhad versus $1,419 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 68% 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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