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: $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
$5.50 IQD 7,205
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
59.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.68 IQD 46.7K
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
10.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 IQD 9,799
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
54.55%
Cappuccino
$2.98 IQD 3,900
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
8.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 IQD 512
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-71.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 284
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-70.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 IQD 4,423
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 IQD 3,849
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-23.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 IQD 1,735
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 IQD 1,081
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-66.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 IQD 2,101
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
36.75%
Eggs
$0.87 IQD 1,134
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
-64.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 IQD 5,747
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
-69.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.03 IQD 2,657
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
-53.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.03 IQD 3,966
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-74.71%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,275
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-73.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 IQD 1,528
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
-28.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 IQD 1,324
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-63.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 947
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-67.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 913
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-63.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 893
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-70.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 IQD 376
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-72.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17 IQD 228
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.77 IQD 1,013
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
-76.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.54 IQD 17.7K
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
-41.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 IQD 2,393
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
-34.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 IQD 2,748
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 484
$0.27 Rp 4,778
37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.56 IQD 41.3K
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
289.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 IQD 5,114
$0.48 Rp 8,659
714.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 IQD 2,018
$0.42 Rp 7,532
266.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 IQD 9,848
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
20.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 IQD 747
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
-23.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K IQD 25.7M
$32.2K Rp 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)
$177 IQD 232.4K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
126.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.31 IQD 34.5K
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
546.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.77 IQD 52.1K
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
63.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.85 IQD 48.3K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-62.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48 IQD 21.6K
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
159.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 IQD 9,977
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
90.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 IQD 216.8K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-45.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,570 IQD 4.7M
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-46.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.86 IQD 37.8K
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-46.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.13 IQD 40.8K
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-17.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.2 IQD 85.4K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-24.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.92 IQD 56.2K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-43.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 IQD 322.8K
$992 Rp 17.8M
-75.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 IQD 236.6K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-73.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 IQD 764.5K
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
-82.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 IQD 447.0K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-83.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$167 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: 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.

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