Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Isfahan vs $464 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Isfahan vs $793 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,188 per month in Isfahan vs $1,122 in Mashhad, rent included.

Isfahan costs about 3% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Isfahan and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 64% lower, Mashhad 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$3.06 $3.06

-1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.65 $10.65

$20.05 $20.05

-46.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.87 $4.87

-37.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.51 $0.51

101.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.86 $0.86

139.53%

Cappuccino

$0.82 $0.82

$1.11 $1.11

-26.13%

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

$0.48 $0.48

$0.43 $0.43

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.44 $0.44

113.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.56 $0.56

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.27 $0.27

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.88 $1.88

21.28%

Eggs

$1.50 $1.50

$1.10 $1.10

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.21 $2.21

27.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.39 $2.39

30.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 $9.98

$10.33 $10.33

-3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.92 $0.92

-31.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.27 $1.27

11.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.62 $0.62

-9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.44 $0.44

38.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.49 $0.49

-2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.49 $0.49

18.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 $0.21

$0.32 $0.32

-34.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.88 $0.88

-40.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.74 $0.74

-31.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.98 $0.98

-21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.64 $2.64

-21.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.19 $0.19

52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.06 $13.06

$4.37 $4.37

198.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.34 $0.34

52.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.48 $0.48

-35.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.05 $2.05

-3.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

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

$67.9K $67.9K

$61.0K $61.0K

11.31%

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

$59.8K $59.8K

$71.7K $71.7K

-16.69%

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

$14.84 $14.84

$13.65 $13.65

8.72%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$2.35 $2.35

-20.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.62 $7.62

$5.66 $5.66

34.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.36 $13.36

$18.93 $18.93

-29.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 $10.70

$14.79 $14.79

-27.65%

Cinema Ticket

$1.09 $1.09

$2.05 $2.05

-46.83%

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

$71.9 $71.9

$45.93 $45.93

56.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$579 $579

$630 $630

-8.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.06 $18.06

$22.47 $22.47

-19.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 $24.12

$36.92 $36.92

-34.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 $85.8

$93.0 $93.0

-7.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.61 $36.61

$85.1 $85.1

-56.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 $291

$215 $215

35.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 $193

$146 $146

32.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 $899

$467 $467

92.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$532 $532

$325 $325

63.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,200 $1,200

$1,141 $1,141

5.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$717 $717

$692 $692

3.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$207 $207

$251 $251

-17.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.86

20.5

31.02%

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

Last update for Isfahan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Isfahan 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.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Mashhad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $105 in Isfahan vs $97.0 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Isfahan vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isfahan costs about 3% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Isfahan 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan and $20.00 in Mashhad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Isfahan and $464 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $478 in Isfahan 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, Isfahan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.