Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Arak Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Arak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $464 in Mashhad versus $434 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $793 in Mashhad versus $658 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,122 in Mashhad versus $881 in Arak.

Living in Mashhad is roughly 7% more expensive than Arak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 65% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 $3.06

$2.96 $2.96

3.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.05 $20.05

$13.97 $13.97

43.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.48 $2.48

96.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.64 $0.64

-20.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.94 $0.94

-8.51%

Cappuccino

$1.11 $1.11

$1.26 $1.26

-11.90%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.36 $0.36

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$1.03 $1.03

-57.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.63 $0.63

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.53 $0.53

-49.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.84 $1.84

2.17%

Eggs

$1.10 $1.10

$1.01 $1.01

8.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.89 $1.89

16.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.94 $1.94

23.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$8.24 $8.24

25.36%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.89 $0.89

3.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.15 $1.15

10.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.64 $0.64

35.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.45 $0.45

37.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.38 $0.38

15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.40 $0.40

22.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.32 $0.32

53.12%

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

$0.55 $0.55

34.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.46 $1.46

-32.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.77 $1.77

49.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.43 $0.43

-55.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.37 $4.37

$10.14 $10.14

-56.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.37 $0.37

-8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.11 $0.11

336.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.26 $1.26

62.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.34 $0.34

147.06%

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

$61.0K $61.0K

$44.2K $44.2K

37.86%

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

$71.7K $71.7K

$38.9K $38.9K

84.32%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$9.97 $9.97

36.91%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.04 $2.04

15.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.73 $5.73

-1.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.93 $18.93

$13.10 $13.10

44.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.79 $14.79

$16.29 $16.29

-9.21%

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 $2.05

$0.99 $0.99

107.07%

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

$45.93 $45.93

$60.3 $60.3

-23.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$630 $630

$1,998 $1,998

-68.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.47 $22.47

$12.98 $12.98

73.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.92 $36.92

$8.09 $8.09

356.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 $93.0

$44.54 $44.54

108.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$44.28 $44.28

92.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 $215

$309 $309

-30.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 $146

$193 $193

-24.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 $467

$485 $485

-3.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$315 $315

3.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 $1,141

$1,345 $1,345

-15.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 $692

$531 $531

30.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$372 $372

-32.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

18.33

11.84%

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

Last update for Mashhad: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arak: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $215 in Mashhad and $309 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Mashhad vs $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $86.0 per month, with Arak cheaper across the board.

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 Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Arak earns 48% 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: $215 in Mashhad versus $309 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $464 per month in Mashhad versus $434 in Arak – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 132% less than in Mashhad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Arak 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 Arak 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 Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.