Cost of Living Comparison Between Abadan and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Abadan and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Abadan versus $470 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $837 in Abadan versus $767 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,155 in Abadan versus $1,065 in Mashhad.

Living in Abadan is roughly 11% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abadan 62% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.17 $3.17

$3.01 $3.01

5.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.38 $16.38

$18.34 $18.34

-10.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.97 $4.97

-25.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.60 $0.60

38.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.98 $0.98

32.65%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.13 $1.13

15.04%

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

$0.47 $0.47

$0.43 $0.43

9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.28 $0.28

235.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.61 $0.61

78.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.17 $0.17

176.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.93 $1.93

13.99%

Eggs

$1.37 $1.37

$1.15 $1.15

19.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.17 $2.17

79.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.73 $2.73

20.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$10.12 $10.12

-12.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.94 $0.94

9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.55 $1.55

12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.81 $0.81

7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.58 $0.58

8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.53 $0.53

1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.44 $0.44

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.48 $0.48

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.29 $0.29

-24.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.92 $0.92

-32.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.74 $0.74

-18.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.93 $0.93

38.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.05 $3.05

-26.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.02 $0.02

850.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 $7.39

$3.60 $3.60

105.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.17 $0.17

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.48 $0.48

-35.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.01 $2.01

14.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

$0.82 $0.82

-89.02%

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

$50.0K $50.0K

$59.1K $59.1K

-15.36%

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

$43.3K $43.3K

$66.3K $66.3K

-34.69%

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

$11.76 $11.76

$13.67 $13.67

-13.97%

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

$1.54 $1.54

$2.64 $2.64

-41.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.89 $3.89

$27.60 $27.60

-85.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.60 $20.60

$19.52 $19.52

5.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 $13.65

$14.83 $14.83

-7.96%

Cinema Ticket

$1.90 $1.90

$2.03 $2.03

-6.40%

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

$101 $101

$39.89 $39.89

153.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,805 $1,805

$612 $612

194.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.40 $21.40

$19.96 $19.96

7.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.08 $28.08

$38.25 $38.25

-26.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$92.1 $92.1

12.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.3 $70.3

$68.3 $68.3

3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 $289

$211 $211

37.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 $178

$150 $150

18.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 $648

$394 $394

64.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 $328

$267 $267

23.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$704 $704

$1,132 $1,132

-37.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 $1,053

$692 $692

52.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 $440

$253 $253

74.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.21

21.6

7.45%

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

Last update for Abadan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $289 in Abadan and $211 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abadan pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $16.00 in Abadan vs $18.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $115 vs $99.0, 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

Abadan vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Abadan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $289 in Abadan versus $211 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $16.00 in Abadan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $520 per month in Abadan versus $470 in Mashhad – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mashhad gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Abadan and Mashhad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Abadan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.