Cost of Living Comparison Between Iran and IndiaCost of Living Comparison Between Iran and India
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Iran versus $388 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Iran versus $617 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,134 in Iran versus $846 in India.
🌍Living in Iran is roughly 33% more expensive than in India on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Iran 61% lower, India 71% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $265 to $913, compared to $406–$692 in Iran. City choice carries more weight in India.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iran
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48$3.48
$2.53₹244
37.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.86$18.86
$13.73₹1,322
37.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.94$3.94
$4.00₹385
-1.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.71$0.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08$1.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.15$1.15
$1.91₹184
-39.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58$0.58
$0.43₹41.85
34.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89$0.89
$0.17₹16.11
423.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.93₹186
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.54₹341
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iran
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63$0.63
$0.73₹69.9
-13.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48$0.48
$0.52₹50.1
-7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11$2.11
$0.73₹69.9
189.04%
Eggs
$1.16$1.16
$0.95₹91.4
22.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$5.32₹512
-28.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$3.10₹299
-2.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.29$9.29
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$0.85$0.85
$2.16₹208
-60.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45$1.45
$0.70₹67.7
107.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94$0.94
$1.05₹101
-10.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58$0.58
$0.53₹50.8
9.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55$0.55
$0.39₹37.66
41.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48$0.48
$0.48₹46.64
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52$0.52
$0.52₹49.78
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24$0.24
$0.36₹34.33
-33.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.82$0.82
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58$0.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40$1.40
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98$1.98
$4.02₹387
-50.75%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.28₹701
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.90₹183
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.03₹292
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.84₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Iran
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22$0.22
$0.36₹34.66
-38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.17$10.17
$9.84₹948
3.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52$0.52
$0.95₹91.8
-45.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31$0.31
$0.30₹29.03
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.43$2.43
$1.79₹172
35.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72$0.72
$1.21₹117
-40.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.6K$72.6K
$13.9K₹1.3M
424.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.6K$58.6K
$22.4K₹2.2M
161.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.81$15.81
$40.16₹3,867
-60.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.13$2.13
$3.76₹362
-43.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.70$7.70
$8.04₹774
-4.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iran
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.24$17.24
$16.25₹1,565
6.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72$11.72
$7.56₹728
55.03%
Cinema Ticket
$1.53$1.53
$3.43₹330
-55.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iran
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4$94.4
$69.7₹6,713
35.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,293$1,293
$1,852₹178.3K
-30.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iran
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84$26.84
$25.59₹2,463
4.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.51$31.51
$26.30₹2,532
19.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111$111
$44.89₹4,322
148.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7$65.7
$33.20₹3,197
98.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iran
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$302$302
$174₹16.8K
73.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213$213
$112₹10.8K
88.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$664$664
$405₹39.0K
64.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427$427
$258₹24.8K
65.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$986$986
$1,263₹121.6K
-21.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$583$583
$653₹62.8K
-10.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iran
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$244$244
$424₹40.8K
-42.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.87
9.02
153.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iran: July 12, 2026
Last update for India: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $294 in Iran, $127 in India. Capital cities: $491 in Tehran vs $242 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $267 in Iran, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 131% higher in Iran.
⭐Dining out costs 55% more in Iran.
⭐Salaries are 49% higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Iran?
At $589 per month in India and $549 in Iran, there's a 7% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Iran: 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in India is consistently higher than in Iran across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $800 a realistic budget in India or in Iran?
In Iran, $800 covers most cities easily; in India it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Iran?
It depends on what you're after: Iran wins on affordability; India may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.