Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Iran

Name: Iran
Address: IR

For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $495 a month against $2,589 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $25,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Australia
Learn more

Australia Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Iran
Learn more

Iran Living Index

Jump to prices

🇦🇺 Australia

$2,589

/mo nomad

🇮🇷 Iran

$495

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Australia and in Iran

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

A single person spends $2,589 per month in Australia vs $495 in Iran, rent included.

Australia $2,589
Iran $495

A couple spends around $3,789 per month in Australia vs $804 in Iran, rent included.

Australia $3,789
Iran $804

A family of three spends $4,990 per month in Australia vs $1,114 in Iran, rent included.

Australia $4,990
Iran $1,114

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,299) than in Iran ($355–$872), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Australia is about 423% higher than in Iran on average.

Australia sits 91% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.24 A$24.73

$3.30 $3.30

422.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.1 A$122

$16.06 $16.06

429.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.18 A$16.04

$4.12 $4.12

171.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 $0.84

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

Cappuccino

$4.01 A$5.75

$1.17 $1.17

242.74%

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

$2.90 A$4.16

$0.54 $0.54

437.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 A$3.30

$0.92 $0.92

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.74 A$11.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 A$11.71

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 A$2.48

$0.62 $0.62

179.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 A$3.86

$0.50 $0.50

438.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 A$3.21

$2.36 $2.36

-5.08%

Eggs

$4.95 A$7.10

$1.12 $1.12

341.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 A$13.52

$3.64 $3.64

158.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 A$13.48

$3.01 $3.01

212.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 A$21.95

$9.80 $9.80

56.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 A$5.24

$0.97 $0.97

276.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 A$4.42

$1.49 $1.49

106.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.69

$0.88 $0.88

271.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 A$6.58

$0.58 $0.58

691.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 A$4.06

$0.48 $0.48

489.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 A$3.25

$0.49 $0.49

361.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 A$3.41

$0.49 $0.49

383.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 A$2.38

$0.25 $0.25

564.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.02 $1.02

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 $0.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.43 A$55.1

$2.14 $2.14

1695.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 A$20.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.95 A$7.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 A$7.36

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 A$3.54

$0.16 $0.16

1437.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.0 A$133

$10.09 $10.09

821.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 A$5.25

$0.48 $0.48

662.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 A$2.61

$0.29 $0.29

527.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.83 A$62.9

$2.44 $2.44

1696.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.93

$0.30 $0.30

350.00%

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

$29.8K A$42.8K

$58.9K $58.9K

-49.35%

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

$26.1K A$37.4K

$52.9K $52.9K

-50.67%

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

$208 A$299

$13.82 $13.82

1406.01%

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

$29.05 A$41.67

$2.24 $2.24

1196.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 A$84.2

$6.49 $6.49

804.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 A$80.9

$16.50 $16.50

241.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.40 A$27.84

$12.32 $12.32

57.47%

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 A$21.68

$1.46 $1.46

934.93%

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

$2,113 A$3,031

$80.2 $80.2

2533.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K A$33.1K

$1,168 $1,168

1876.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.0 A$115

$22.51 $22.51

255.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 A$77.8

$26.70 $26.70

103.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$160

$103 $103

8.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 A$179

$60.8 $60.8

104.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 A$2,325

$251 $251

544.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 A$1,802

$177 $177

608.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 A$3,753

$560 $560

367.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 A$2,880

$337 $337

495.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,539 A$12.3K

$993 $993

760.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,404 A$9,187

$604 $604

961.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,931 A$5,639

$244 $244

1508.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.96

23.49

-74.63%

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

Last update for Australia: November 3, 2026

Last update for Iran: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Australia

$1.3K 48.5%

Iran

$177 35.9% 85.9% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Australia

$373 14.4%

Iran

$108 21.8% 71% $265

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Australia

$296 11.4%

Iran

$23 4.6% 92.4% $273

Eating Out

Australia

$295 11.4%

Iran

$59 11.9% 80.1% $237

Clothing & Footwear

Australia

$167 6.4%

Iran

$96 19.4% 42.4% $71

Getting Around

Australia

$116 4.5%

Iran

$13 2.6% 89.1% $103

Sport & Entertainment

Australia

$87 3.4%

Iran

$19 3.9% 77.6% $67

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,381 in Australia vs $294 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,761 in Canberra and $419 in Tehran.

Average salary: $3,863 in Australia vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 370% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 419% more in Australia.

Public transport is 750% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are about 14 times higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

Good to know

🇦🇺 Australia

🇮🇷 Iran

🕒 Local time

15:45 3:45 PM

08:15 8:15 AM

7 h 30 min behind Australia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

26,473,055

86,758,304

💱 Currency

Australian Dollar AUD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 AUD = 0.697 USD

1 AUD = 0.623 EUR

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇦🇺 Australian Dollar ($)

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.697 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

USD to AUD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Australia Iran 12,810 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Australia
Iran

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

Australia vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 81% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,381 versus $294 in Iran.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 81% cheaper overall.

Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.