Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahabad and Shiraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahabad and Shiraz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $464 per month in Mahabad vs $543 in Shiraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $740 per month in Mahabad vs $809 in Shiraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,015 per month in Mahabad vs $1,074 in Shiraz, rent included.

Mahabad is about 15% cheaper than Shiraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mahabad and Shiraz are more affordable than the global median – Mahabad 66% lower, Shiraz 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 $2.80

$4.43 $4.43

-36.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.25 $16.25

$13.19 $13.19

23.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.88 $3.88

5.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.02 $1.02

-16.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.74 $1.74

-26.44%

Cappuccino

$0.97 $0.97

$1.18 $1.18

-17.80%

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

$0.49 $0.49

$0.62 $0.62

-20.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.72 $0.72

63.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.45 $0.45

-2.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.97 $1.97

12.18%

Eggs

$1.18 $1.18

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.53 $8.53

$2.28 $2.28

274.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.95 $2.95

4.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 $7.07

$9.76 $9.76

-27.56%

Apples (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.07 $1.07

-32.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.61 $1.61

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 $0.89

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.56 $0.56

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.54 $0.54

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.56 $0.56

-23.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.47 $0.47

2.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.22 $0.22

31.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.83 $0.83

-31.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.56 $0.56

-7.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.68 $1.68

-13.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.91 $2.91

-23.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.11 $0.11

81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.82 $6.82

$2.94 $2.94

131.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.39 $0.39

23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.19 $0.19

42.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.42 $3.42

-30.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

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

$53.8K $53.8K

$65.4K $65.4K

-17.71%

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

$39.7K $39.7K

$54.3K $54.3K

-26.92%

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

$14.42 $14.42

$24.06 $24.06

-40.07%

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

$1.63 $1.63

$1.98 $1.98

-17.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.69 $3.69

$16.78 $16.78

-78.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.71 $8.71

$18.93 $18.93

-53.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.32 $12.32

$13.51 $13.51

-8.81%

Cinema Ticket

$1.46 $1.46

$2.01 $2.01

-27.36%

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

$106 $106

$103 $103

2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,511 $1,511

$2,391 $2,391

-36.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.01 $20.01

$22.78 $22.78

-12.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 $28.33

$18.69 $18.69

51.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 $56.4

$96.0 $96.0

-41.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.21 $29.21

$55.5 $55.5

-47.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 $290

$286 $286

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 $201

$220 $220

-8.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$676 $676

$537 $537

25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$316 $316

6.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$838 $838

$1,157 $1,157

-27.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$558 $558

$513 $513

8.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 $275

$237 $237

16.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.21

23.8

-2.48%

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

Last update for Mahabad: September 15, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Mahabad versus $286 in Shiraz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Mahabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Mahabad versus $13.00 in Shiraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $116 vs $104 – making Shiraz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Mahabad vs Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shiraz is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $696 per month in Mahabad and $814 in Shiraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Mahabad and $103 in Shiraz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Shiraz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $464 in Mahabad and $543 in Shiraz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shiraz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.