😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $451 in Mashhad versus $450 in Chandigarh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Mashhad versus $731 in Chandigarh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,098 in Mashhad versus $1,012 in Chandigarh.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Mashhad and Chandigarh; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad66% lower, Chandigarh66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94$2.94
$3.12₹300
-5.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.68$19.68
$14.08₹1,355
39.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01$5.01
$3.53₹340
41.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93$0.93
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.16$1.16
$1.98₹191
-41.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43$0.43
$0.40₹38.41
7.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48$0.48
$0.20₹19.21
140.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78₹171
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88₹278
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.53$0.53
$0.77₹74.2
-31.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25$0.25
$0.57₹54.9
-56.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85$1.85
$0.82₹79.1
125.61%
Eggs
$1.09$1.09
$1.09₹105
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.16$2.16
$5.49₹528
-60.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.40$2.40
$2.91₹281
-17.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.34$10.34
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$0.89$0.89
$2.05₹198
-56.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21$1.21
$0.75₹72.3
61.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92$0.92
$0.99₹95.7
-7.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65$0.65
$0.56₹54.4
16.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48$0.48
$0.39₹37.80
23.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49$0.49
$0.45₹43.77
8.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48$0.48
$0.46₹43.96
4.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30$0.30
$0.31₹30.32
-3.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.92$0.92
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74$0.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97$0.97
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62$2.62
$4.14₹398
-36.71%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.70₹1,126
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66₹160
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.85₹275
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.06₹487
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19$0.19
$0.28₹26.69
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.37$4.37
$8.68₹835
-49.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33$0.33
$0.79₹75.7
-58.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52$0.52
$0.24₹23.11
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.97$1.97
$1.31₹126
50.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.21₹116
-32.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.4K$59.4K
$14.8K₹1.4M
301.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$71.7K$71.7K
$28.9K₹2.8M
148.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.84$13.84
$47.68₹4,590
-70.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.29$2.29
$3.34₹321
-31.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.89$5.89
$7.17₹690
-17.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.79$18.79
$19.79₹1,905
-5.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90$14.90
$10.31₹992
44.52%
Cinema Ticket
$2.05$2.05
$2.84₹273
-27.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.01$46.01
$61.9₹5,957
-25.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$623$623
$1,966₹189.3K
-68.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.20$22.20
$24.88₹2,395
-10.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.65$36.65
$24.03₹2,314
52.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2$95.2
$48.63₹4,682
95.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8$86.8
$32.59₹3,138
166.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$212$212
$170₹16.4K
24.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146$146
$104₹10.1K
40.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$455$455
$411₹39.5K
10.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324$324
$267₹25.7K
21.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,127$1,127
$3,017₹290.5K
-62.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$678$678
$1,782₹171.6K
-61.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Chandigarh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$253$253
$471₹45.3K
-46.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.5
8.3
146.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mashhad: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chandigarh: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Mashhad and $170 in Chandigarh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chandigarh pays 86% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Mashhad vs $14.00 in Chandigarh. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $119, 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 Chandigarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Mashhad or in Chandigarh?
On paper, salaries run 86% lower in Chandigarh. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mashhad compared to Chandigarh?
Rent for a central apartment: $212 in Mashhad versus $170 in Chandigarh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mashhad and in Chandigarh?
Childcare runs $46.01 in Mashhad versus $61.9 in Chandigarh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mashhad and in Chandigarh?
Dining out is cheaper in Chandigarh – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $20.00 in Mashhad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Mashhad or in Chandigarh?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chandigarh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mashhad or Chandigarh?
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.
How safe is Mashhad compared to Chandigarh?
Safety-wise, Mashhad and Chandigarh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Should I move to Mashhad or to Chandigarh?
It comes down to priorities – Chandigarh wins on affordability, Mashhad on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.