Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Abbas and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Abbas and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $579 per month in Bandar Abbas vs $450 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $901 per month in Bandar Abbas vs $786 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,223 per month in Bandar Abbas vs $1,122 in Mashhad, rent included.

Bandar Abbas costs about 29% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bandar Abbas and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Bandar Abbas 57% lower, Mashhad 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 $4.11

$3.02 $3.02

36.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.97 $16.97

$19.84 $19.84

-14.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.89 $4.89

-9.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.52 $0.52

19.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.87 $0.87

16.09%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.15 $1.15

-4.35%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.40 $0.40

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.48 $0.48

93.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.56 $0.56

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.25 $0.25

112.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

Eggs

$1.17 $1.17

$1.15 $1.15

1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.21 $2.21

61.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.48 $2.48

33.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 $9.70

$10.45 $10.45

-7.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.85 $0.85

5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.23 $1.23

13.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.90 $0.90

-8.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.64 $0.64

-10.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.48 $0.48

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.32 $0.32

-21.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.86 $0.86

-20.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.81 $0.81

-38.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.92 $0.92

54.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.65 $2.65

-18.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.18 $0.18

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 $10.01

$4.43 $4.43

125.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.34 $0.34

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.49 $0.49

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.84 $0.84

-14.29%

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

$73.1K $73.1K

$59.3K $59.3K

23.28%

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

$55.7K $55.7K

$70.0K $70.0K

-20.35%

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

$15.46 $15.46

$13.97 $13.97

10.67%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$2.30 $2.30

-7.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.77 $5.77

-2.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.22 $16.22

$18.68 $18.68

-13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.38 $12.38

$15.15 $15.15

-18.28%

Cinema Ticket

$1.51 $1.51

$2.04 $2.04

-25.98%

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

$114 $114

$45.17 $45.17

151.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,962 $1,962

$615 $615

218.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.43 $22.43

$22.71 $22.71

-1.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.69 $24.69

$37.38 $37.38

-33.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$95.7 $95.7

13.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 $69.4

$85.8 $85.8

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 $343

$213 $213

60.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$146 $146

73.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 $810

$458 $458

76.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 $416

$325 $325

28.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 $1,111

$1,151 $1,151

-3.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 $626

$676 $676

-7.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 $181

$254 $254

-28.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

20.5

8.49%

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

Last update for Bandar Abbas: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in Bandar Abbas versus $213 in Mashhad. 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 40% higher in Mashhad, 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 $17.00 in Bandar Abbas versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $107 in Bandar Abbas vs $97.0 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bandar Abbas vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bandar Abbas is pricier by about 29%, 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 $869 per month in Bandar Abbas and $675 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $579 in Bandar Abbas and $450 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 126% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $579 in Bandar Abbas and $450 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – 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 Mashhad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bandar Abbas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.