Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Babol Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Babol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $464 per month in Mashhad vs $415 in Babol, rent included.

A couple spends around $793 per month in Mashhad vs $744 in Babol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,122 per month in Mashhad vs $1,073 in Babol, rent included.

Mashhad costs about 12% more than Babol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mashhad and Babol are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Babol 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 $3.06

$3.37 $3.37

-9.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.05 $20.05

$18.33 $18.33

9.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.08 $5.08

-4.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.63 $0.63

-19.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

Cappuccino

$1.11 $1.11

$1.01 $1.01

9.90%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.42 $0.42

2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.97 $0.97

-54.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.63 $0.63

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.23 $0.23

17.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.86 $1.86

1.08%

Eggs

$1.10 $1.10

$1.05 $1.05

4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.84 $1.84

20.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.28 $3.28

-27.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$8.46 $8.46

22.10%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.87 $0.87

5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.26 $1.26

0.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.80 $0.80

8.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.58 $0.58

6.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.54 $0.54

-18.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.47 $0.47

4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.34 $0.34

44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.15 $0.15

113.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.58 $0.58

51.72%

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

$1.60 $1.60

-38.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.79 $1.79

47.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.22 $0.22

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.37 $4.37

$10.19 $10.19

-57.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.51 $0.51

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.29 $0.29

65.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.95 $2.95

-30.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.77 $0.77

9.09%

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

$61.0K $61.0K

$79.3K $79.3K

-23.10%

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

$71.7K $71.7K

$29.3K $29.3K

145.21%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$14.79 $14.79

-7.71%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.05 $2.05

14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$3.98 $3.98

42.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.93 $18.93

$16.07 $16.07

17.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.29 $12.29

20.34%

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 $2.05

$1.47 $1.47

39.46%

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

$45.93 $45.93

$49.69 $49.69

-7.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$630 $630

$1,943 $1,943

-67.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.47 $22.47

$21.92 $21.92

2.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.92 $36.92

$34.43 $34.43

7.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 $93.0

$120 $120

-22.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$68.9 $68.9

23.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 $215

$189 $189

13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 $146

$95.7 $95.7

52.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 $467

$495 $495

-5.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$282 $282

15.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 $1,141

$910 $910

25.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 $692

$595 $595

16.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$130 $130

92.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

23.75

-13.68%

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

Last update for Mashhad: June 1, 2026

Last update for Babol: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Mashhad versus $189 in Babol. 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 93% higher in Mashhad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Mashhad versus $18.00 in Babol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $91.0 – making Babol 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

Mashhad vs Babol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $464 in Mashhad, $415 in Babol – roughly 12% apart. Mashhad costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $697 per month in Mashhad and $622 in Babol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 133% less in Babol. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $45.93 per month in Mashhad and $49.69 in Babol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $464 in Mashhad and $415 in Babol, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Babol – 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 Babol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mashhad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.