Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $541 in Karaj versus $450 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Karaj versus $786 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,428 in Karaj versus $1,122 in Mashhad.

Living in Karaj is roughly 20% more expensive than Mashhad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karaj 60% lower, Mashhad 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 $4.09

$3.02 $3.02

35.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.69 $17.69

$19.84 $19.84

-10.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.89 $4.89

0.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.52 $0.52

23.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.87 $0.87

16.09%

Cappuccino

$1.31 $1.31

$1.15 $1.15

13.91%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.40 $0.40

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.48 $0.48

122.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.56 $0.56

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.25 $0.25

128.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.87 $1.87

-1.07%

Eggs

$1.01 $1.01

$1.15 $1.15

-12.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.21 $2.21

58.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.48 $2.48

34.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$10.45 $10.45

0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.85 $0.85

-1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.23 $1.23

15.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.90 $0.90

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.64 $0.64

-26.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.48 $0.48

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.48 $0.48

-2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.48 $0.48

31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.32 $0.32

-31.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.86 $0.86

-29.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.81 $0.81

-39.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.92 $0.92

48.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.65 $2.65

-6.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 $0.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 $12.82

$4.43 $4.43

189.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.34 $0.34

-8.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.49 $0.49

-40.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.84 $0.84

-15.48%

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

$80.4K $80.4K

$59.3K $59.3K

35.61%

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

$54.0K $54.0K

$70.0K $70.0K

-22.81%

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

$13.74 $13.74

$13.97 $13.97

-1.65%

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

$2.10 $2.10

$2.30 $2.30

-8.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.74 $5.74

$5.77 $5.77

-0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.57 $22.57

$18.68 $18.68

20.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 $10.19

$15.15 $15.15

-32.74%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$2.04 $2.04

-24.51%

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

$127 $127

$45.17 $45.17

181.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$814 $814

$615 $615

32.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.87 $24.87

$22.71 $22.71

9.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 $34.58

$37.38 $37.38

-7.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 $98.2

$95.7 $95.7

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 $61.0

$85.8 $85.8

-28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 $364

$213 $213

70.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 $194

$146 $146

32.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$872 $872

$458 $458

90.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 $623

$325 $325

91.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,264 $1,264

$1,151 $1,151

9.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$544 $544

$676 $676

-19.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$243 $243

$254 $254

-4.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.67

20.5

10.59%

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

Last update for Karaj: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in Karaj and $213 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mashhad pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Karaj vs $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $108 vs $97.0, with Mashhad cheaper for home cooking.

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

Karaj vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karaj and Mashhad differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($541 vs $450 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Mashhad earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $364 in Karaj versus $213 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Karaj. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $18.00 in Karaj. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mashhad gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Karaj and Mashhad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Karaj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.