Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Shiraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Shiraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $755 in Karaj versus $529 in Shiraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,074 in Karaj versus $803 in Shiraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,392 in Karaj versus $1,077 in Shiraz.

Living in Karaj is roughly 43% more expensive than in Shiraz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karaj 45% lower, Shiraz 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$4.08 $4.08

-13.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.19 $16.19

$11.78 $11.78

37.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.89 $3.89

1.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.98 $0.98

-47.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.54 $1.54

-33.77%

Cappuccino

$1.11 $1.11

$1.06 $1.06

4.72%

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

$0.47 $0.47

$0.70 $0.70

-32.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.66 $0.66

-3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.41 $0.41

24.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.97 $1.97

5.58%

Eggs

$1.08 $1.08

$1.19 $1.19

-9.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.32 $2.32

76.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.06 $3.06

10.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 $9.76

$9.97 $9.97

-2.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.57 $1.57

7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.93 $0.93

-19.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.59 $0.59

-15.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.54 $0.54

-14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.57 $0.57

-22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.51 $0.51

7.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.22 $0.22

-9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.82 $0.82

-23.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.60 $0.60

-13.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.67 $1.67

-20.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.96 $2.96

-14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.11 $0.11

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.88 $12.88

$3.05 $3.05

322.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.38 $0.38

-23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.23 $0.23

34.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.52 $3.52

-27.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.10 $0.10

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

$60.5K $60.5K

$63.7K $63.7K

-5.17%

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

$44.0K $44.0K

$52.9K $52.9K

-16.72%

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

$13.19 $13.19

$23.47 $23.47

-43.80%

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

$1.65 $1.65

$2.06 $2.06

-19.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.69 $3.69

$16.98 $16.98

-78.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$18.38 $18.38

25.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.82 $9.82

$13.88 $13.88

-29.25%

Cinema Ticket

$1.11 $1.11

$1.95 $1.95

-43.08%

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

$108 $108

$102 $102

6.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$824 $824

$2,373 $2,373

-65.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.80 $22.80

$22.06 $22.06

3.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.08 $28.08

$18.19 $18.19

54.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 $96.0

$96.1 $96.1

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.0 $69.0

$49.35 $49.35

39.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$293 $293

24.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 $432

$220 $220

96.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 $886

$543 $543

63.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 $610

$326 $326

86.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,266 $1,266

$1,163 $1,163

8.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$541 $541

$532 $532

1.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 $244

$234 $234

4.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.67

24.04

-5.70%

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

Last update for Karaj: August 16, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Karaj and $293 in Shiraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karaj pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $16.00 in Karaj vs $12.00 in Shiraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $104 per month, with Shiraz cheaper across the board.

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 Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karaj and Shiraz differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($755 vs $529 including rent). Shiraz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Karaj, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $366 in Karaj versus $293 in Shiraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Karaj. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Shiraz – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $16.00 in Karaj. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Shiraz 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 Shiraz 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 Shiraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Karaj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.