Cost of Living Comparison Between Ardabil and Shiraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Ardabil and Shiraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $594 in Ardabil versus $554 in Shiraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Ardabil versus $882 in Shiraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,279 in Ardabil versus $1,211 in Shiraz.

Living in Ardabil is roughly 7% more expensive than Shiraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ardabil 56% lower, Shiraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.44 $5.44

$5.99 $5.99

-9.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.15 $17.15

$14.05 $14.05

22.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.42 $3.42

69.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.68 $0.68

114.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$2.03 $2.03

-48.28%

Cappuccino

$1.50 $1.50

$1.01 $1.01

48.51%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$1.47 $1.47

-69.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.17 $1.17

-55.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.64 $0.64

15.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.50 $0.50

16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.59 $1.59

91.19%

Eggs

$1.14 $1.14

$1.19 $1.19

-4.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.91 $2.91

106.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.74 $3.74

-10.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.97 $9.97

1.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.87 $0.87

106.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.01 $1.01

83.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.56 $0.56

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.52 $0.52

98.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.46 $0.46

65.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.76 $0.76

55.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.26 $0.26

-11.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.59 $0.59

$1.02 $1.02

-42.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.36 $2.36

-46.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.22 $0.22

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.02 $10.02

$2.39 $2.39

319.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.29 $0.29

13.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.17 $0.17

70.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.76 $1.76

14.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.73 $0.73

6.85%

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

$72.1K $72.1K

$74.4K $74.4K

-3.05%

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

$55.2K $55.2K

$80.0K $80.0K

-30.96%

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

$15.66 $15.66

$36.57 $36.57

-57.18%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$1.94 $1.94

6.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.91 $5.91

$19.23 $19.23

-69.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.13 $23.13

$15.90 $15.90

45.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.45 $12.45

$15.82 $15.82

-21.30%

Cinema Ticket

$1.46 $1.46

$2.02 $2.02

-27.72%

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

$117 $117

$156 $156

-24.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,949 $1,949

$2,156 $2,156

-9.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.99 $38.99

$24.32 $24.32

60.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.44 $22.44

$20.47 $20.47

9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$73.2 $73.2

51.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.3 $70.3

$41.72 $41.72

68.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$287 $287

17.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 $200

$205 $205

-2.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 $683

$471 $471

45.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 $319

$400 $400

-20.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,075 $1,075

$1,072 $1,072

0.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$664 $664

$534 $534

24.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 $203

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

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

Last update for Ardabil: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Ardabil and $287 in Shiraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Ardabil vs $14.00 in Shiraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $138 vs $110 per month, with Shiraz 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

Ardabil vs Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shiraz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $891 in Ardabil and $831 in Shiraz to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Ardabil versus $287 in Shiraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Shiraz runs roughly 319% less than in Ardabil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $117 in Ardabil versus $156 in Shiraz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Shiraz 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, Ardabil and Shiraz 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 Shiraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ardabil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.