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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $524 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $464 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $817 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $793 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,111 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus vs $1,122 in Mashhad, rent included.

Gonbad-e Kavus costs about 13% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gonbad-e Kavus and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Gonbad-e Kavus 61% lower, Mashhad 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 $3.95

$3.06 $3.06

29.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.92 $16.92

$20.05 $20.05

-15.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.87 $4.87

-5.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.51 $0.51

31.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.86 $0.86

23.26%

Cappuccino

$1.16 $1.16

$1.11 $1.11

4.50%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.43 $0.43

4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.44 $0.44

127.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.56 $0.56

1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.27 $0.27

103.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.88 $1.88

34.57%

Eggs

$1.09 $1.09

$1.10 $1.10

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.21 $2.21

55.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.39 $2.39

-4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$10.33 $10.33

-43.56%

Apples (1kg)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.92 $0.92

-15.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.27 $1.27

34.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.87 $0.87

12.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.62 $0.62

-22.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.44 $0.44

11.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.49 $0.49

46.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.49 $0.49

20.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.32 $0.32

-3.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.88 $0.88

-17.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.74 $0.74

4.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.98 $0.98

38.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.64 $2.64

-3.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.19 $0.19

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 $9.90

$4.37 $4.37

126.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.34 $0.34

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.48 $0.48

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.05 $2.05

-0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.84 $0.84

-11.90%

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

$73.6K $73.6K

$61.0K $61.0K

20.72%

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

$54.1K $54.1K

$71.7K $71.7K

-24.62%

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

$16.05 $16.05

$13.65 $13.65

17.58%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.35 $2.35

-13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.66 $5.66

3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.27 $16.27

$18.93 $18.93

-14.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.73 $12.73

$14.79 $14.79

-13.93%

Cinema Ticket

$1.48 $1.48

$2.05 $2.05

-27.80%

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

$115 $115

$45.93 $45.93

150.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,989 $1,989

$630 $630

215.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.32 $22.32

$22.47 $22.47

-0.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 $24.74

$36.92 $36.92

-32.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$93.0 $93.0

20.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 $71.0

$85.1 $85.1

-16.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 $282

$215 $215

31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 $198

$146 $146

35.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 $638

$467 $467

36.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 $322

$325 $325

-0.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 $1,089

$1,141 $1,141

-4.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$602 $602

$692 $692

-12.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

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 Gonbad-e Kavus: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Gonbad-e Kavus versus $215 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 $17.00 in Gonbad-e Kavus versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $97.0 – making Gonbad-e Kavus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yes – Gonbad-e Kavus is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $787 per month in Gonbad-e Kavus and $697 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 $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus and $464 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 127% 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 $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus and $464 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, Gonbad-e Kavus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.