Cost of Living Comparison Between Iran and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Iran and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Iran vs $391 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $826 per month in Iran vs $592 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Iran vs $792 in Pakistan, rent included.

The cost of living in Iran is about 32% higher than in Pakistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Iran and Pakistan are more affordable than the global median – Iran 61% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 $3.48
$1.81 PKR 502
92.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.86 $18.86
$12.15 PKR 3,370
55.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.29 PKR 1,189
-8.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.75 PKR 484
-59.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
$3.98 PKR 1,105
-72.86%
Cappuccino
$1.15 $1.15
$1.74 PKR 482
-33.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 $0.58
$0.36 PKR 100
61.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$0.21 PKR 58.2
323.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 $0.63
$0.78 PKR 215
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.56 PKR 154
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.21 PKR 337
74.38%
Eggs
$1.16 $1.16
$1.20 PKR 334
-3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$5.69 PKR 1,577
-33.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.84 PKR 788
6.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.29 $9.29
$4.09 PKR 1,133
127.14%
Apples (1kg)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.00 PKR 278
-15.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$0.61 PKR 170
137.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.76 PKR 211
23.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 $0.58
$0.52 PKR 145
11.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$0.38 PKR 106
44.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.51 PKR 143
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.38 PKR 106
36.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.36 PKR 98.7
-33.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.82 $0.82
$2.01 PKR 558
-59.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.10 PKR 304
-47.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 $1.40
$2.08 PKR 578
-32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.96 PKR 544
1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 $0.22
$0.20 PKR 56.1
10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.17 $10.17
$7.24 PKR 2,008
40.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.84 PKR 232
-38.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.52 PKR 145
-40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.79 PKR 496
35.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$0.89 PKR 248
-19.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.6K $72.6K
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
307.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.6K $58.6K
$23.7K PKR 6.6M
146.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.81 $15.81
$110 PKR 30.5K
-85.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.13 $2.13
$4.58 PKR 1,269
-53.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.70 $7.70
$15.58 PKR 4,320
-50.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.24 $17.24
$13.28 PKR 3,682
29.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 $11.72
$8.84 PKR 2,453
32.58%
Cinema Ticket
$1.53 $1.53
$4.13 PKR 1,147
-62.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 $94.4
$39.62 PKR 11.0K
138.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,293 $1,293
$1,170 PKR 324.5K
10.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84 $26.84
$15.59 PKR 4,324
72.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.51 $31.51
$23.77 PKR 6,593
32.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$71.9 PKR 19.9K
54.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7 $65.7
$32.15 PKR 8,916
104.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 $302
$115 PKR 31.9K
162.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 $213
$66.3 PKR 18.4K
220.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$664 $664
$274 PKR 76.1K
142.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 $427
$163 PKR 45.1K
162.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$986 $986
$965 PKR 267.7K
2.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$583 $583
$502 PKR 139.2K
16.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iran
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$244 $244
$186 PKR 51.5K
31.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.87
18.97
20.56%

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

Last update for Iran: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $294 in Iran vs $78.0 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $491 in Tehran and $199 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $267 in Iran vs $181 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 277% higher in Iran.

Dining out costs 55% more in Iran.

Public transport is 43% more expensive in Iran.

Salaries are 48% higher in Iran.

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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 34% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Pakistan?
Housing costs more in Iran, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Iran consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Pakistan?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Pakistan, contributing to the overall 34% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Iran and Pakistan on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Pakistan, but in Iran it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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