Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Mashhad

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $485 a month against $1,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Mashhad
🇮🇷 Iran
$485
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Mashhad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Mashhad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $485 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,348
  • Mashhad $485

A couple spends around $2,312 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $770 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,312
  • Mashhad $770

A family of three spends $3,276 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,055 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,276
  • Mashhad $1,055

Ubud, Bali costs about 178% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Mashhad is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
$3.03 $3.03
9.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
$18.20 $18.20
94.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
$4.89 $4.89
17.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.59 $0.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.98 $0.98
-
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$1.09 $1.09
141.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
$0.43 $0.43
304.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$0.26 $0.26
196.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
$0.62 $0.62
146.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
$0.19 $0.19
1057.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$2.03 $2.03
-39.90%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$1.10 $1.10
94.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
$2.16 $2.16
720.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
$2.77 $2.77
39.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
$10.45 $10.45
15.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
$0.96 $0.96
276.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$1.51 $1.51
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
$0.78 $0.78
197.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$0.57 $0.57
250.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$0.53 $0.53
241.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$0.47 $0.47
408.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$0.48 $0.48
106.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,373
$0.29 $0.29
79.31%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.88 $0.88
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 $0.74
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97 $0.97
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$3.03 $3.03
-28.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,255
$0.02 $0.02
1100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
$3.72 $3.72
87.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,876
$0.19 $0.19
131.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,582
$0.49 $0.49
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
$1.96 $1.96
178.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$0.82 $0.82
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
$60.2K $60.2K
-59.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
$66.2K $66.2K
-51.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$13.58 $13.58
495.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
$2.67 $2.67
146.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
$27.42 $27.42
-33.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
$19.38 $19.38
184.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
$14.98 $14.98
23.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$2.03 $2.03
108.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 Rp 8.7M
$40.02 $40.02
1113.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
$622 $622
811.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
$19.92 $19.92
126.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
$38.69 $38.69
-10.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
$93.5 $93.5
-15.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$68.6 $68.6
13.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
$213 $213
428.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 12.1M
$148 $148
355.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
$400 $400
805.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
$272 $272
537.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
$1,125 $1,125
151.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
$689 $689
234.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$252 $252
-34.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
21.5
-35.91%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$674
Mashhad
$148 78% $526
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Mashhad
$100 65.5% $190
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Mashhad
$55 49.3% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Mashhad
$99 6.7% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$106
Mashhad
$44 58.7% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$64
Mashhad
$23 63.2% $40
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Mashhad
$6.4 38.7% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,127 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 52% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $100 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇷 Mashhad
🕒 Local time
15:45 3:45 PM
11:15 11:15 AM
4 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
3,001,184
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Mashhad 7,650 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Mashhad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Mashhad?
Ubud, Bali costs about 178% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Mashhad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,022 per month in Ubud, Bali and $727 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Mashhad?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Mashhad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,348 in Ubud, Bali and $485 in Mashhad. That's a gap of about 178%.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Mashhad?
Public transport costs about 88% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Mashhad?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $485, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,348. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Mashhad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $485 versus $1,348 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Mashhad?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Mashhad?
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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?