Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Arak versus $471 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Arak versus $769 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Arak versus $1,067 in Mashhad.

Living in Arak is roughly 1% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arak 65% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 $3.58

$2.97 $2.97

20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.09 $13.09

$18.48 $18.48

-29.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.94 $4.94

-17.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.59 $0.59

37.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.91 $0.91

-37.36%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.09 $1.09

19.27%

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

$0.48 $0.48

$0.43 $0.43

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$0.26 $0.26

546.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.62 $0.62

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.20 $0.20

160.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.00 $2.00

-3.00%

Eggs

$1.27 $1.27

$1.15 $1.15

10.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.17 $2.17

2.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.65 $2.65

-1.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 $9.76

$10.40 $10.40

-6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.96 $0.96

-18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.55 $1.55

-36.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.79 $0.79

-13.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.58 $0.58

-15.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$0.49 $0.49

-16.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$0.48 $0.48

-14.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.86 $0.86

-32.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.77 $0.77

-32.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.93 $0.93

132.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.94 $2.94

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.02 $0.02

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.71 $7.71

$3.77 $3.77

104.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.22 $0.22

4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.51 $0.51

-78.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.97 $1.97

-49.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.08 $0.08

$0.83 $0.83

-90.36%

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

$49.3K $49.3K

$60.6K $60.6K

-18.77%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$66.8K $66.8K

-46.72%

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

$10.08 $10.08

$13.53 $13.53

-25.50%

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

$1.48 $1.48

$2.71 $2.71

-45.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.74 $3.74

$27.21 $27.21

-86.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.05 $10.05

$19.66 $19.66

-48.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.78 $24.78

$15.23 $15.23

62.71%

Cinema Ticket

$1.07 $1.07

$1.96 $1.96

-45.41%

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

$85.5 $85.5

$40.49 $40.49

111.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,383 $2,383

$617 $617

286.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.59 $13.59

$20.05 $20.05

-32.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.70 $8.70

$38.61 $38.61

-77.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 $80.6

$94.3 $94.3

-14.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 $51.1

$68.9 $68.9

-25.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 $285

$215 $215

32.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 $200

$150 $150

33.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 $674

$391 $391

72.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 $338

$271 $271

25.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,326 $1,326

$1,161 $1,161

14.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 $534

$677 $677

-21.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$372 $372

$255 $255

45.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

21.6

-14.35%

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

Last update for Arak: September 8, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Arak and $215 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 46% 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: $13.00 in Arak vs $18.00 in Mashhad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $100 per month, with Arak cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arak vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Arak, 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: $285 in Arak versus $215 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Arak versus $471 in Mashhad – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mashhad runs roughly 105% less than in Arak. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Arak 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 1% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.