Cost of Living Comparison Between Khost and Mazar-i-Sharif Cost of Living Comparison Between Khost and Mazar-i-Sharif

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $51 in Khost versus $668 in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $86 in Khost versus $836 in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $121 in Khost versus $1,004 in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Living in Khost costs roughly 92% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Khost 96% lower, Mazar-i-Sharif 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ؋141

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.61 ؋939

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 ؋218

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 ؋226

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 ؋453

Cappuccino

$1.11 ؋71.4

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

$0.53 ؋33.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ؋17.50

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 ؋35.41

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ؋13.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ؋104

Eggs

$1.54 ؋99.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 ؋316

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 ؋240

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 ؋345

Apples (1kg)

$0.53 ؋34.11

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ؋59.9

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 ؋46.74

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 ؋36.49

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ؋29.72

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ؋24.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 ؋26.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.34

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.89 ؋121

$1.40 ؋89.9

35.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 ؋28.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ؋74.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.17 ؋75.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ؋26.75

$0.48 ؋30.68

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.29 ؋1,111

$21.75 ؋1,397

-20.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ؋44.09

$0.70 ؋44.82

-1.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ؋43.81

$1.36 ؋87.5

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ؋143

$1.48 ؋95.1

50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ؋72.8

$1.11 ؋71.4

1.80%

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

$10.0K ؋642.6K

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

$40.6K ؋2.6M

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

$108 ؋6,937

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

$15.70 ؋1,009

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$293 ؋18.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.33 ؋471

$10.97 ؋705

-33.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.61 ؋361

$3.52 ؋226

59.38%

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 ؋188

$4.21 ؋271

-30.40%

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

$28.57 ؋1,836

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.11 ؋778

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$16.96 ؋1,090

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$28.95 ؋1,860

$86.3 ؋5,547

-66.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$14.19 ؋911

$43.06 ؋2,767

-67.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.1 ؋4,568

$144 ؋9,274

-50.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.38 ؋2,723

$72.3 ؋4,645

-41.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 ؋25.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$161 ؋10.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ؋12.1K

$281 ؋18.1K

-33.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Khost: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $29 in Khost and $86 in Mazar-i-Sharif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mazar-i-Sharif pays 50% 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: $0 in Khost vs $15 in Mazar-i-Sharif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $0 vs $91 per month, with Khost cheaper across the board.

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

Khost vs Mazar-i-Sharif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khost is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1214% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Mazar-i-Sharif earns 50% 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: $28.95 in Khost versus $86.3 in Mazar-i-Sharif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 26% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $50.8 per month in Khost versus $668 in Mazar-i-Sharif – a 1214% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Khost 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.

Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1214% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.