Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Karaj and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Karaj versus $615 in Tehran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,092 in Karaj versus $1,038 in Tehran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,423 in Karaj versus $1,462 in Tehran.

Living in Karaj is roughly 24% more expensive than in Tehran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karaj 45% lower, Tehran 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 $3.45

$3.41 $3.41

1.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.63 $16.63

$16.42 $16.42

1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.94 $3.94

4.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.96 $0.96

-45.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.34 $1.34

-17.91%

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

$0.44 $0.44

$0.50 $0.50

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.65 $1.65

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.67 $0.67

2.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.57 $0.57

-14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$3.48 $3.48

-39.66%

Eggs

$1.08 $1.08

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.22 $4.22

0.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.25 $3.25

-0.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$9.80 $9.80

4.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.27 $1.27

-29.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.78 $1.78

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.14 $1.14

-32.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.67 $0.67

-31.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.55 $0.55

-16.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.51 $0.51

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 $0.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.31 $0.31

-38.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.62 $0.62

-6.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

$2.15 $2.15

-37.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.43 $2.43

0.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.10 $0.10

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.94 $12.94

$5.37 $5.37

140.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.52 $0.52

-40.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.31 $0.31

-6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.95 $2.95

-14.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

$0.08 $0.08

12.50%

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

$50.6K $50.6K

$50.4K $50.4K

0.57%

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

$43.2K $43.2K

$43.7K $43.7K

-1.18%

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

$13.16 $13.16

$13.57 $13.57

-3.02%

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

$1.59 $1.59

$1.61 $1.61

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.78 $3.78

-2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.70 $22.70

$24.67 $24.67

-7.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.92 $9.92

$13.41 $13.41

-26.03%

Cinema Ticket

$1.06 $1.06

$1.99 $1.99

-46.73%

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

$110 $110

$108 $108

2.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$839 $839

$2,611 $2,611

-67.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.86 $24.86

$26.47 $26.47

-6.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.11 $28.11

$37.04 $37.04

-24.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 $97.4

$107 $107

-8.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 $76.3

$75.4 $75.4

1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 $370

$419 $419

-11.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 $447

$254 $254

75.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 $891

$988 $988

-9.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$629 $629

$611 $611

2.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,254 $1,254

$1,274 $1,274

-1.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$535 $535

$720 $720

-25.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 $244

$219 $219

11.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.67

23.42

-3.20%

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

Last update for Karaj: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tehran: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in Karaj and $419 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karaj pays 12% 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: $17.00 in Karaj vs $16.00 in Tehran. Groceries flip the comparison at $111 vs $123, with Karaj 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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karaj and Tehran differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($761 vs $615 including rent). Tehran is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $370 in Karaj versus $419 in Tehran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Karaj pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Tehran – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $17.00 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 Tehran 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 Tehran 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 Tehran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Karaj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.