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