Cost of Living Comparison Between Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif Cost of Living Comparison Between Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $386 per month in Herat vs $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif, rent included.

A couple spends around $465 per month in Herat vs $454 in Mazar-i-Sharif, rent included.

A family of three spends $544 per month in Herat vs $617 in Mazar-i-Sharif, rent included.

Herat costs about 33% more than Mazar-i-Sharif, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif are more affordable than the global median – Herat 72% lower, Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ؋144

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.03 ؋580

$14.93 ؋960

-39.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ؋237

$3.85 ؋248

-4.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ؋96.1

$7.64 ؋491

-80.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 ؋499

$7.63 ؋491

1.83%

Cappuccino

$0.72 ؋46.47

$1.22 ؋78.7

-40.98%

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

$0.47 ؋30.29

$0.57 ؋36.81

-17.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ؋20.11

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 ؋40.65

$0.62 ؋39.98

1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 ؋10.57

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 ؋129

Eggs

$1.83 ؋118

$1.63 ؋105

12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 ؋501

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 ؋217

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.20 ؋399

$6.15 ؋395

0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$0.59 ؋37.75

$0.55 ؋35.44

7.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ؋51.2

$1.15 ؋74.1

-30.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 ؋50.7

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ؋37.43

$0.60 ؋38.85

-3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 ؋20.02

$0.47 ؋30.00

-34.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 ؋18.47

$0.41 ؋26.38

-29.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ؋35.71

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ؋20.17

$0.29 ؋18.59

6.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 ؋115

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ؋30.17

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ؋193

$1.54 ؋99.1

94.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ؋51.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ؋99.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ؋93.7

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

$9,816 ؋631.2K

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

$298 ؋19.2K

$79.7 ؋5,125

274.23%

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

$16.74 ؋1,077

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.43 ؋992

$11.38 ؋732

35.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.68 ؋237

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 ؋290

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

$76.0 ؋4,889

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.83 ؋825

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.94 ؋1,154

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$231 ؋14.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Herat: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Herat versus $15.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $48.00 vs $105 – making Herat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Herat vs Mazar-i-Sharif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Herat costs about 33% more than Mazar-i-Sharif, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $580 per month in Herat and $436 in Mazar-i-Sharif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 118% cheaper in Herat – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Herat and $15.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $386 in Herat and $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mazar-i-Sharif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mazar-i-Sharif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.