For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $497 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Iran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,310 per month in Canada vs $497 in Iran, rent included.
Canada $2,310
Iran $497
A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Canada vs $809 in Iran, rent included.
Canada $3,356
Iran $809
A family of three spends $4,403 per month in Canada vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.
Canada $4,403
Iran $1,121
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Iran ($361–$874), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Canada is about 364% higher than in Iran on average.
📊
Canada sits 70% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16CA$25.40
$3.41$3.41
432.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2CA$99.6
$15.99$15.99
345.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81CA$15.12
$3.95$3.95
173.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.85$0.85
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.11$1.11
-
Cappuccino
$3.78CA$5.28
$1.18$1.18
220.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11CA$2.96
$0.53$0.53
298.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66CA$2.32
$0.85$0.85
95.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62CA$7.86
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$8.00
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Iran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CA$3.04
$0.62$0.62
250.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.64
$0.48$0.48
441.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.11
$2.35$2.35
55.32%
Eggs
$3.63CA$5.07
$1.11$1.11
227.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76CA$15.06
$3.74$3.74
187.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90CA$16.64
$3.00$3.00
296.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.42CA$21.57
$9.85$9.85
56.55%
Apples(1kg)
$4.03CA$5.63
$0.97$0.97
315.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38CA$1.94
$1.47$1.47
-6.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.42
$0.89$0.89
335.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08CA$5.71
$0.58$0.58
603.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.57CA$3.59
$0.51$0.51
403.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.48CA$3.46
$0.46$0.46
439.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CA$3.70
$0.51$0.51
419.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.40
$0.23$0.23
643.48%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53$0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32CA$20.03
$2.21$2.21
547.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.49CA$18.86
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84CA$3.97
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.62
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55CA$3.57
$0.15$0.15
1600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.9CA$101
$10.20$10.20
605.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18CA$4.45
$0.52$0.52
511.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.15
$0.31$0.31
396.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.69CA$37.33
$2.43$2.43
998.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CA$1.74
$0.28$0.28
342.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KCA$39.0K
$59.2K$59.2K
-52.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.5K
$52.7K$52.7K
-60.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147CA$206
$13.72$13.72
974.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80CA$58.5
$2.30$2.30
1717.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2CA$84.2
$6.70$6.70
798.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.01CA$54.6
$16.70$16.70
133.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06CA$26.66
$12.24$12.24
55.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21CA$15.68
$1.54$1.54
627.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721CA$1,009
$81.3$81.3
786.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KCA$20.8K
$1,146$1,146
1195.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Iran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3CA$77.3
$22.85$22.85
141.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95CA$54.5
$26.56$26.56
46.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4CA$122
$100$100
-12.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$142
$62.5$62.5
61.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,290CA$1,805
$252$252
412.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,130CA$1,581
$180$180
528.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,036CA$2,848
$556$556
266.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,731CA$2,421
$345$345
402.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,769CA$6,670
$994$994
379.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,730CA$5,217
$585$585
537.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070CA$4,293
$243$243
1164.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
23.39
-79.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026
Last update for Iran: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K 48.9%
Iran
$180 36.1% ↓ 84.1%$950
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$371 16.1%
Iran
$108 21.7% ↓ 70.9%$263
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$278 12%
Iran
$59 11.8% ↓ 78.8%$219
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$249 10.8%
Iran
$23 4.6% ↓ 90.9%$227
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127 5.5%
Iran
$96 19.2% ↓ 25%$32
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$93 4%
Iran
$13 2.6% ↓ 86.2%$80
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$61 2.7%
Iran
$20 4% ↓ 67.8%$42
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.7K 39.3%
Iran
$345 30.7% ↓ 80.1%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$847 19.2%
Iran
$264 23.5% ↓ 68.8%$583
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$918 20.9%
Iran
$198 17.6% ↓ 78.5%$721
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$291 6.6%
Iran
$25 2.2% ↓ 91.4%$266
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$283 6.4%
Iran
$212 18.9% ↓ 25%$71
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$191 4.3%
Iran
$26 2.3% ↓ 86.4%$165
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$142 3.2%
Iran
$52 4.6% ↓ 63.5%$90
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,250 in Canada vs $295 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,434 in Ottawa and $430 in Tehran.
💰Average salary: $2,968 in Canada vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 324% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 300% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 560% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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
Canada vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Iran?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 78% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $295 in Iran.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 78% cheaper overall.
Should I move to Canada or to Iran?
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.