Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Birjand Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Birjand

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Mashhad vs $528 in Birjand, rent included.

A couple spends around $800 per month in Mashhad vs $833 in Birjand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Mashhad vs $1,139 in Birjand, rent included.

Mashhad is about 10% cheaper than Birjand, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mashhad and Birjand are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Birjand 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$4.07 $4.07

-24.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 $19.80

$17.08 $17.08

15.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.48 $4.48

9.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.63 $0.63

-17.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.00 $1.00

-13.00%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.11 $1.11

-0.90%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.46 $0.46

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.94 $0.94

-52.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.58 $0.58

-3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.52 $0.52

-48.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.91 $1.91

-2.62%

Eggs

$1.11 $1.11

$1.18 $1.18

-5.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.40 $3.40

-35.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.17 $3.17

-22.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$9.67 $9.67

5.07%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.41 $1.41

-14.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.89 $0.89

-3.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.53 $0.53

24.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.52 $0.52

-13.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.45 $0.45

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.60 $0.60

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 $0.30

$0.23 $0.23

30.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.07 $1.07

-14.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.49 $0.49

63.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.43 $1.43

-35.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.17 $2.17

25.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.22 $0.22

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.32 $4.32

$10.06 $10.06

-57.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.34 $0.34

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.27 $0.27

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.95 $1.95

1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

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

$60.0K $60.0K

$71.5K $71.5K

-15.98%

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

$70.2K $70.2K

$54.1K $54.1K

29.92%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$15.61 $15.61

-13.32%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.11 $2.11

9.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.50 $15.50

$5.59 $5.59

177.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.56 $18.56

$16.31 $16.31

13.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.37 $12.37

21.83%

Cinema Ticket

$1.98 $1.98

$1.49 $1.49

32.89%

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

$45.75 $45.75

$115 $115

-60.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$631 $631

$1,973 $1,973

-67.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.37 $22.37

$22.42 $22.42

-0.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.70 $37.70

$25.09 $25.09

50.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 $93.2

$108 $108

-14.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$69.8 $69.8

23.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 $218

$281 $281

-22.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 $145

$202 $202

-28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$625 $625

-27.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$315 $315

1.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 $1,167

$1,063 $1,063

9.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 $690

$554 $554

24.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$5.31 $5.31

4618.27%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Birjand: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Mashhad versus $281 in Birjand. 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 4618% higher in Mashhad, 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 $20.00 in Mashhad versus $17.00 in Birjand. Groceries tell a different story – $96.0 in Mashhad vs $105 in Birjand – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Birjand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $473 in Mashhad, $528 in Birjand – roughly 12% apart. Birjand costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Mashhad and $792 in Birjand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 10% more in Birjand, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Mashhad and $17.00 in Birjand. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $473 in Mashhad and $528 in Birjand, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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