Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gonbad-e Kavus and Mashhad, Iran

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $478 a month against $515 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent and utilities included – about $440 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Gonbad-e Kavus outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran
Mashhad, Iran
Gonbad-e Kavus
🇮🇷 Iran
$515
/mo nomad
Mashhad
🇮🇷 Iran
$478
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gonbad-e Kavus and in Mashhad

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

A single person spends $515 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $478 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Gonbad-e Kavus $515
  • Mashhad $478

A couple spends around $819 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $766 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Gonbad-e Kavus $819
  • Mashhad $766

A family of three spends $1,123 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $1,055 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Gonbad-e Kavus $1,123
  • Mashhad $1,055

Gonbad-e Kavus costs about 8% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Gonbad-e Kavus and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Gonbad-e Kavus 62% lower, Mashhad 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.88 $2.88
$2.94 $2.94
-2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.03 $16.03
$18.29 $18.29
-12.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.97 $4.97
-22.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.70 $0.70
$0.56 $0.56
25.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.95 $0.95
22.11%
Cappuccino
$1.09 $1.09
$1.10 $1.10
-0.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.43 $0.43
6.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.26 $0.26
280.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 $0.69
$0.61 $0.61
13.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.21 $0.21
142.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.94 $1.94
2.58%
Eggs
$1.23 $1.23
$1.12 $1.12
9.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.08 $2.08
115.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.73 $2.73
21.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.16 $10.16
$10.34 $10.34
-1.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.94 $0.94
7.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.55 $1.55
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.83 $0.83
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 $0.56
$0.61 $0.61
-8.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 $0.58
$0.52 $0.52
11.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.44 $0.44
9.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 $0.54
$0.52 $0.52
3.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 $0.23
$0.29 $0.29
-20.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.91 $0.91
-10.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.77 $0.77
-33.77%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 $1.38
$0.90 $0.90
53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.03 $3.03
-19.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 $0.14
$0.02 $0.02
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.18 $8.18
$3.58 $3.58
128.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 $0.42
$0.20 $0.20
110.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.52 $0.52
-44.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.99 $1.99
27.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.09 $0.09
$0.81 $0.81
-88.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.8K $47.8K
$59.3K $59.3K
-19.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.1K $44.1K
$68.1K $68.1K
-35.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.11 $13.11
$13.66 $13.66
-4.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.63 $2.63
-39.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.49 $4.49
$26.95 $26.95
-83.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.79 $18.79
$19.25 $19.25
-2.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 $14.80
$15.14 $15.14
-2.25%
Cinema Ticket
$1.72 $1.72
$2.05 $2.05
-16.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.5 $99.5
$41.46 $41.46
139.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,394 $2,394
$613 $613
290.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.78 $22.78
$20.34 $20.34
12.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.18 $31.18
$38.31 $38.31
-18.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$93.2 $93.2
-3.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 $63.9
$69.8 $69.8
-8.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 $278
$209 $209
33.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$202 $202
$151 $151
34.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$782 $782
$392 $392
99.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 $350
$266 $266
31.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,142 $1,142
$1,153 $1,153
-0.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$540 $540
$683 $683
-20.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gonbad-e Kavus
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$250 $250
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
21.5
13.02%

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

Last update for Gonbad-e Kavus: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gonbad-e Kavus
$202
Mashhad
$151 25.5% $52
Groceries & Markets
Gonbad-e Kavus
$114
Mashhad
$100 12% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Gonbad-e Kavus
$93
Mashhad
$100 6.9% $6.4
Eating Out
Gonbad-e Kavus
$53
Mashhad
$54 1.6% $0.9
Sport & Entertainment
Gonbad-e Kavus
$22
Mashhad
$23 5% $1.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gonbad-e Kavus
$19
Mashhad
$43 125% $24
Getting Around
Gonbad-e Kavus
$11
Mashhad
$6.5 38.9% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Gonbad-e Kavus versus $209 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Gonbad-e Kavus versus $18 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $114 in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $100 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Gonbad-e Kavus
🇮🇷 Mashhad
🕒 Local time
07:18 7:18 AM
07:18 7:18 AM
Same time as Gonbad-e Kavus
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
151,910
3,001,184
💱 Currency
USD USD
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gonbad-e Kavus Mashhad 410 km
From you
  • Gonbad-e Kavus
  • Mashhad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gonbad-e Kavus vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mashhad cheaper than Gonbad-e Kavus?
Yes – Gonbad-e Kavus is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $772 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus and $717 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $278 in Gonbad-e Kavus.
What are total monthly expenses in Gonbad-e Kavus and in Mashhad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Gonbad-e Kavus and $478 in Mashhad. That makes Mashhad about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough for either Gonbad-e Kavus or Mashhad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $515 in Gonbad-e Kavus and $478 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Gonbad-e Kavus or Mashhad more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Gonbad-e Kavus or Mashhad?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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