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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $699 in Tehran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,151 in Tehran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,603 in Tehran, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 100% more than Tehran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Tehran is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.6K

$4.07 $4.07

-16.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 577.1K

$17.78 $17.78

82.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 89.1K

$5.04 $5.04

-0.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.3K

$1.25 $1.25

125.60%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

$0.45 $0.45

206.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$1.08 $1.08

-32.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 53.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.8K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

$0.63 $0.63

184.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$0.54 $0.54

355.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$1.88 $1.88

-36.17%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.6K

$1.20 $1.20

99.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 256.6K

$3.41 $3.41

322.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 76.4K

$3.36 $3.36

27.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 210.6K

$10.53 $10.53

12.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.4K

$0.85 $0.85

344.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.41 $1.41

15.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.9K

$0.82 $0.82

241.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

$0.64 $0.64

253.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.6K

$0.55 $0.55

263.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.4K

$0.53 $0.53

316.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

$0.63 $0.63

69.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.25 $0.25

204.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.61 $0.61

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.7K

$2.46 $2.46

27.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 424.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.5K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,755

$0.24 $0.24

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 149.1K

$9.82 $9.82

-14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,082

$0.48 $0.48

-6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,624

$0.31 $0.31

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 106.5K

$2.99 $2.99

100.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.78 $0.78

2.56%

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

$25.8K Rp 459.9M

$79.6K $79.6K

-67.58%

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

$31.8K Rp 566.8M

$55.7K $55.7K

-42.89%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$15.81 $15.81

410.69%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.7K

$2.21 $2.21

87.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 429.8K

$5.91 $5.91

308.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$22.81 $22.81

328.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 118.4K

$11.83 $11.83

-43.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.9K

$1.53 $1.53

164.05%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$127 $127

134.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 117.4M

$1,966 $1,966

235.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 982.6K

$31.04 $31.04

77.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 686.2K

$34.20 $34.20

12.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$120 $120

-28.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$69.7 $69.7

11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.6M

$485 $485

103.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$341 $341

94.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.4M

$1,017 $1,017

238.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.4M

$694 $694

194.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.4M

$1,290 $1,290

119.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.7M

$773 $773

195.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$211 $211

-19.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

25.07

-47.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tehran: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $485 in Tehran. 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 25% higher in Tehran, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Tehran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $110 – making Tehran 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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,048 in Tehran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $127 in Tehran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 172% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tehran, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Tehran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tehran – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Tehran. 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.