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 Iran and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $497 per month in Iran vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.
Iran $497
Canada $2,310
A couple spends around $809 per month in Iran vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.
Iran $809
Canada $3,356
A family of three spends $1,121 per month in Iran vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.
Iran $1,121
Canada $4,403
📏
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 Iran is roughly 78% lower than in Canada on average.
📊
Iran sits 63% below the global median, while Canada is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Iran
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41$3.41
$18.16CA$25.40
-81.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.99$15.99
$71.2CA$99.6
-77.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.95$3.95
$10.81CA$15.12
-63.46%
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
$1.18$1.18
$3.78CA$5.28
-68.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53$0.53
$2.11CA$2.96
-74.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85$0.85
$1.66CA$2.32
-48.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.62CA$7.86
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.72CA$8.00
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iran
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62$0.62
$2.17CA$3.04
-71.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48$0.48
$2.60CA$3.64
-81.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35$2.35
$3.65CA$5.11
-35.62%
Eggs
$1.11$1.11
$3.63CA$5.07
-69.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.74$3.74
$10.76CA$15.06
-65.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$11.90CA$16.64
-74.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.85$9.85
$15.42CA$21.57
-36.12%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97$0.97
$4.03CA$5.63
-75.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47$1.47
$1.38CA$1.94
6.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89$0.89
$3.88CA$5.42
-77.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58$0.58
$4.08CA$5.71
-85.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51$0.51
$2.57CA$3.59
-80.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46$0.46
$2.48CA$3.46
-81.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51$0.51
$2.65CA$3.70
-80.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23$0.23
$1.71CA$2.40
-86.55%
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)
$2.21$2.21
$14.32CA$20.03
-84.57%
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
Iran
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15$0.15
$2.55CA$3.57
-94.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.20$10.20
$71.9CA$101
-85.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52$0.52
$3.18CA$4.45
-83.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31$0.31
$1.54CA$2.15
-79.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.43$2.43
$26.69CA$37.33
-90.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.28$0.28
$1.24CA$1.74
-77.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.2K$59.2K
$27.9KCA$39.0K
112.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.7K$52.7K
$21.1KCA$29.5K
150.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.72$13.72
$147CA$206
-90.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.30$2.30
$41.80CA$58.5
-94.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.70$6.70
$60.2CA$84.2
-88.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iran
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.70$16.70
$39.01CA$54.6
-57.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24$12.24
$19.06CA$26.66
-35.78%
Cinema Ticket
$1.54$1.54
$11.21CA$15.68
-86.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iran
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.3$81.3
$721CA$1,009
-88.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,146$1,146
$14.8KCA$20.8K
-92.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iran
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.85$22.85
$55.3CA$77.3
-58.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.56$26.56
$38.95CA$54.5
-31.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100$100
$87.4CA$122
14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.5$62.5
$101CA$142
-38.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iran
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$252$252
$1,290CA$1,805
-80.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180$180
$1,130CA$1,581
-84.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$556$556
$2,036CA$2,848
-72.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345$345
$1,731CA$2,421
-80.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$994$994
$4,769CA$6,670
-79.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$585$585
$3,730CA$5,217
-84.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iran
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$243$243
$3,070CA$4,293
-92.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.39
4.87
380.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iran: October 25, 2026
Last update for Canada: October 26, 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
Iran
$180 36.1%
Canada
$1.1K 48.9% ↑ 529%$950
🛒Groceries & Markets
Iran
$108 21.7%
Canada
$371 16.1% ↑ 244%$263
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Iran
$96 19.2%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↑ 33.3%$32
🍽Eating Out
Iran
$59 11.8%
Canada
$278 12% ↑ 373%$219
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
$23 4.6%
Canada
$249 10.8% ↑ 998%$227
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Iran
$20 4%
Canada
$61 2.7% ↑ 211%$42
🚌Getting Around
Iran
$13 2.6%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 623%$80
🏠Accommodation & Living
Iran
$345 30.7%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↑ 402%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Iran
$264 23.5%
Canada
$847 19.2% ↑ 221%$583
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Iran
$212 18.9%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↑ 33.3%$71
🍽Eating Out
Iran
$198 17.6%
Canada
$918 20.9% ↑ 365%$721
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
$25 2.2%
Canada
$291 6.6% ↑ 1064%$266
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Iran
$52 4.6%
Canada
$142 3.2% ↑ 174%$90
🚌Getting Around
Iran
$26 2.3%
Canada
$191 4.3% ↑ 634%$165
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $295 in Iran vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $430 in Tehran and $1,434 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $268 in Iran vs $2,968 in Canada. 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
Iran vs Canada: 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.