Cost of Living Comparison Between Kish and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Kish and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $527 in Kish versus $451 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $814 in Kish versus $774 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,101 in Kish versus $1,098 in Mashhad.

Living in Kish is roughly 17% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kish 61% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 $4.42

$2.94 $2.94

50.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.98 $15.98

$19.68 $19.68

-18.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.01 $5.01

-34.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.52 $0.52

30.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.93 $0.93

8.60%

Cappuccino

$1.16 $1.16

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

$0.42 $0.42

$0.43 $0.43

-2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.48 $0.48

95.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.53 $0.53

7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.25 $0.25

112.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

Eggs

$1.18 $1.18

$1.09 $1.09

8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.16 $2.16

63.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.40 $2.40

35.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.34 $10.34

-1.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.89 $0.89

3.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.21 $1.21

17.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.92 $0.92

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.65 $0.65

-12.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.49 $0.49

-8.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.48 $0.48

22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.30 $0.30

-23.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.92 $0.92

-34.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.74 $0.74

-33.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.97 $0.97

47.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.62 $2.62

-18.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.83 $9.83

$4.37 $4.37

124.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.52 $0.52

-44.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.97 $1.97

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.82 $0.82

-10.98%

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

$72.5K $72.5K

$59.4K $59.4K

22.16%

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

$54.6K $54.6K

$71.7K $71.7K

-23.78%

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

$15.86 $15.86

$13.84 $13.84

14.60%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$2.29 $2.29

-6.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.85 $5.85

$5.89 $5.89

-0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.21 $16.21

$18.79 $18.79

-13.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.63 $12.63

$14.90 $14.90

-15.23%

Cinema Ticket

$1.47 $1.47

$2.05 $2.05

-28.29%

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

$117 $117

$46.01 $46.01

153.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,966 $1,966

$623 $623

215.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.46 $22.46

$22.20 $22.20

1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 $25.49

$36.65 $36.65

-30.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$95.2 $95.2

15.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.0 $69.0

$86.8 $86.8

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 $285

$212 $212

34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 $196

$146 $146

33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 $638

$455 $455

40.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 $316

$324 $324

-2.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,226 $1,226

$1,127 $1,127

8.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$661 $661

$678 $678

-2.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$412 $412

$253 $253

63.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

20.5

8.49%

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

Last update for Kish: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kish and $212 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kish pays 63% 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 Kish vs $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $108 vs $96.0, 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

Kish vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kish and Mashhad differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($527 vs $451 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 63% higher in Kish, 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: $285 in Kish versus $212 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Kish. 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 $16.00 in Kish. 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, Kish 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 17% less than in Kish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.