Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Abadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Abadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $454 in Mashhad versus $543 in Abadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $784 in Mashhad versus $834 in Abadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,115 in Mashhad versus $1,126 in Abadan.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 16% less than in Abadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 66% lower, Abadan 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 $2.98

$3.91 $3.91

-23.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.35 $20.35

$17.12 $17.12

18.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.39 $4.39

14.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.63 $0.63

-22.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.01 $1.01

-8.91%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.46 $0.46

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.94 $0.94

-53.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 $0.53

$1.05 $1.05

-49.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.56 $0.56

-51.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.86 $1.86

1.61%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$1.19 $1.19

-5.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.37 $3.37

-36.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.16 $3.16

-21.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$9.85 $9.85

3.65%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.86 $0.86

-1.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.42 $1.42

-14.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.81 $0.81

4.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.59 $0.59

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.49 $0.49

-4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.48 $0.48

2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.59 $0.59

-11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.25 $0.25

28.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.62 $0.62

41.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.50 $0.50

48.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.38 $1.38

-34.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.21 $2.21

22.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.17 $0.17

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.33 $4.33

$9.94 $9.94

-56.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.36 $0.36

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.29 $0.29

79.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.95 $1.95

3.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

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

$59.9K $59.9K

$71.4K $71.4K

-16.12%

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

$70.3K $70.3K

$55.8K $55.8K

26.16%

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

$13.51 $13.51

$15.63 $15.63

-13.56%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.12 $2.12

10.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.91 $5.91

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.79 $18.79

$15.71 $15.71

19.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 $15.12

$12.56 $12.56

20.38%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$1.46 $1.46

39.73%

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

$46.74 $46.74

$115 $115

-59.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$626 $626

$1,981 $1,981

-68.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.36 $22.36

$22.92 $22.92

-2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.55 $37.55

$24.74 $24.74

51.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 $94.4

$112 $112

-15.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 $86.9

$70.9 $70.9

22.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$281 $281

-24.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 $147

$201 $201

-26.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 $452

$644 $644

-29.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 $322

$326 $326

-0.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,158 $1,158

$694 $694

66.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$677 $677

$1,028 $1,028

-34.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 $257

$444 $444

-42.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

22.24

-7.82%

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

Last update for Mashhad: July 28, 2026

Last update for Abadan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Mashhad and $281 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abadan pays 73% 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: $20.00 in Mashhad vs $17.00 in Abadan. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $111, 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

Mashhad vs Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Abadan. 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: $212 in Mashhad versus $281 in Abadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $17.00 in Abadan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $454 per month in Mashhad versus $543 in Abadan – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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, Mashhad and Abadan 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 20% less than in Abadan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.