Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Iran Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Iran

Name: Iran
Address: IR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $713 in China versus $517 in Iran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in China versus $827 in Iran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,551 in China versus $1,136 in Iran.

Living in China is roughly 38% more expensive than Iran on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Iran 62% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $535 to $1,206, compared to $400–$704 in Iran. City choice carries more weight in China.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 ¥19.36

$3.43 $3.43

-16.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.29 ¥158

$18.48 $18.48

26.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ¥32.66

$4.05 $4.05

19.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥20.52

$1.13 $1.13

169.03%

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

$0.45 ¥3.03

$0.58 $0.58

-22.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$0.90 $0.90

-70.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ¥6.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥13.74

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.86

$0.65 $0.65

169.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥11.31

$0.48 $0.48

247.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.56

$2.06 $2.06

-52.91%

Eggs

$1.54 ¥10.45

$1.16 $1.16

32.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.30 ¥89.9

$3.79 $3.79

250.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 ¥21.69

$3.00 $3.00

7.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 ¥73.0

$9.41 $9.41

14.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.27

$0.90 $0.90

101.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.84

$1.45 $1.45

-9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ¥10.15

$0.93 $0.93

61.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ¥7.74

$0.60 $0.60

90.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.90

$0.55 $0.55

32.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 ¥5.86

$0.52 $0.52

67.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ¥3.85

$0.52 $0.52

9.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.24 $0.24

125.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.84 $0.84

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 ¥23.88

$2.02 $2.02

74.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ¥79.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ¥2.75

$0.22 $0.22

86.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.78 ¥141

$10.14 $10.14

104.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.21

$0.48 $0.48

183.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.21

$0.29 $0.29

13.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 ¥46.40

$2.43 $2.43

182.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.57

$0.69 $0.69

62.32%

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

$19.2K ¥129.8K

$71.9K $71.9K

-73.31%

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

$16.9K ¥114.4K

$58.4K $58.4K

-71.04%

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

$51.8 ¥350

$15.88 $15.88

226.26%

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

$9.85 ¥66.6

$2.14 $2.14

360.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.13 ¥75.3

$7.61 $7.61

46.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.10 ¥264

$17.78 $17.78

119.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 ¥101

$11.58 $11.58

28.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 ¥42.24

$1.52 $1.52

311.18%

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

$404 ¥2,732

$94.7 $94.7

326.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ¥120.5K

$1,297 $1,297

1274.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.11 ¥312

$27.03 $27.03

70.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.27 ¥218

$31.43 $31.43

2.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 ¥491

$111 $111

-34.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 ¥493

$67.6 $67.6

7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥3,009

$302 $302

47.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ¥1,727

$215 $215

18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ¥6,266

$652 $652

42.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$532 ¥3,600

$419 $419

27.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,943 ¥33.4K

$982 $982

403.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,492 ¥16.9K

$594 $594

319.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,057 ¥7,148

$248 $248

326.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

22.87

-82.25%

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

Last update for China: June 6, 2026

Last update for Iran: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $286 in China, $295 in Iran. Capital cities: $913 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $488 in Tehran.

National salary averages: $862 in China, $264 in Iran. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 24% more in China.

Public transport is 80% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 227% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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

China vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $871 per month in China and $552 in Iran, there's a 58% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Iran is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in China beats Iran across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Iran, $800 covers most cities easily. In China, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after. Iran wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.