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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $450 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $786 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,122 in Mashhad, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 212% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Mashhad is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$3.02 $3.02

18.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$19.84 $19.84

63.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.89 $4.89

-0.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$1.15 $1.15

139.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.40 $0.40

230.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.48 $0.48

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.56 $0.56

205.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.25 $0.25

888.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.87 $1.87

-35.83%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.15 $1.15

112.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$2.21 $2.21

550.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.48 $2.48

73.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$10.45 $10.45

16.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$0.85 $0.85

332.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.23 $1.23

26.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$0.90 $0.90

210.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.64 $0.64

264.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.48 $0.48

310.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.48 $0.48

381.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.48 $0.48

120.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.32 $0.32

128.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.65 $2.65

23.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.18 $0.18

61.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$4.43 $4.43

81.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.34 $0.34

32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.49 $0.49

-8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$2.02 $2.02

208.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.84 $0.84

1.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$59.3K $59.3K

-56.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$70.0K $70.0K

-54.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$13.97 $13.97

478.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$2.30 $2.30

76.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$5.77 $5.77

323.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$18.68 $18.68

422.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$15.15 $15.15

-57.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$2.04 $2.04

98.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$45.17 $45.17

573.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$615 $615

976.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$22.71 $22.71

138.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$37.38 $37.38

3.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$95.7 $95.7

-9.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$85.8 $85.8

-10.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$213 $213

362.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$146 $146

349.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$458 $458

636.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$325 $325

535.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,151 $1,151

138.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$676 $676

229.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$254 $254

-35.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

20.5

-35.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $213 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Mashhad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $97.0 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ubud, Bali vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 212% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $675 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $450 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 82% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $450 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mashhad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.