Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Karaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Karaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $473 in Mashhad versus $529 in Karaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $800 in Mashhad versus $976 in Karaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,127 in Mashhad versus $1,423 in Karaj.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 11% less than in Karaj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 65% lower, Karaj 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$4.06 $4.06

-24.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 $19.80

$18.13 $18.13

9.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.05 $5.05

-2.77%

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

$1.05 $1.05

-17.14%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.32 $1.32

-16.67%

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

$1.07 $1.07

-57.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.63 $0.63

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.58 $0.58

-53.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.92 $1.92

-3.12%

Eggs

$1.11 $1.11

$1.00 $1.00

11.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.53 $3.53

-37.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.24 $3.24

-23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$10.75 $10.75

-5.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.82 $0.82

9.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.43 $1.43

-16.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.82 $0.82

4.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.50 $0.50

32.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.42 $0.42

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.47 $0.47

2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.63 $0.63

-23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 $0.30

$0.20 $0.20

50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.98 $0.98

-6.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.46 $0.46

73.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.32 $1.32

-30.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.52 $2.52

8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.23 $0.23

-17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.32 $4.32

$13.01 $13.01

-66.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.31 $0.31

54.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.63 $2.63

-25.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.74 $0.74

5.41%

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

$60.0K $60.0K

$79.8K $79.8K

-24.78%

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

$70.2K $70.2K

$54.2K $54.2K

29.54%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$14.13 $14.13

-4.25%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.22 $2.22

3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.50 $15.50

$5.89 $5.89

163.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.56 $18.56

$22.36 $22.36

-16.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 $15.07

$9.87 $9.87

52.68%

Cinema Ticket

$1.98 $1.98

$1.53 $1.53

29.41%

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

$45.75 $45.75

$127 $127

-63.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$631 $631

$829 $829

-23.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.37 $22.37

$25.12 $25.12

-10.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.70 $37.70

$33.80 $33.80

11.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 $93.2

$95.8 $95.8

-2.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$59.2 $59.2

45.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 $218

$367 $367

-40.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 $145

$197 $197

-26.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$893 $893

-49.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$618 $618

-48.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 $1,167

$1,273 $1,273

-8.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 $690

$530 $530

30.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$242 $242

3.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

22.67

-9.57%

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

Last update for Mashhad: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karaj: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Mashhad and $367 in Karaj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mashhad pays 3% 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 $18.00 in Karaj. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $108, 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 Karaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad and Karaj differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($473 vs $529 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mashhad pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $218 in Mashhad versus $367 in Karaj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Karaj. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $18.00 in Karaj. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 Karaj 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 12% less than in Karaj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.