Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $478 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $20,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mashhad
🇮🇷 Iran
$478
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mashhad and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mashhad and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $478 in Mashhad versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Mashhad $478
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $769 in Mashhad versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Mashhad $769
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,060 in Mashhad versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Mashhad $1,060
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mashhad is 65% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 $2.94
$16.50 €14.67
-82.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.79 $18.79
$61.3 €54.5
-69.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 $4.97
$11.27 €10.03
-55.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.57 $0.57
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 $0.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.08 $1.08
$3.06 €2.72
-64.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 $0.43
$2.26 €2.01
-80.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 $0.26
$1.73 €1.54
-84.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.39 €3.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.40 €3.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.65 $0.65
$1.12 €1.00
-41.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 $0.21
$1.86 €1.65
-88.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.53 €1.36
26.14%
Eggs
$1.16 $1.16
$3.96 €3.53
-70.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$12.76 €11.35
-83.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$7.90 €7.02
-65.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 $10.32
$16.97 €15.09
-39.19%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.27 €2.02
-60.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.75 €1.55
-11.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.85 €1.64
-54.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 $0.58
$2.57 €2.28
-77.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.86 €1.65
-73.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 $0.44
$2.02 €1.80
-78.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.44 €1.28
-63.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.82 €0.73
-64.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.93 $0.93
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 $0.78
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 $0.93
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 $3.05
$6.56 €5.83
-53.51%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.62 €5.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.28 €1.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.07 €1.84
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.02 $0.02
$2.35 €2.09
-99.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.68 $3.68
$44.18 €39.30
-91.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.18 $0.18
$3.99 €3.55
-95.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.09 €0.97
-55.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 $2.02
$16.64 €14.81
-87.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$2.28 €2.03
-63.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$60.8K $60.8K
$33.7K €30.0K
80.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$66.2K $66.2K
$39.3K €35.0K
68.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.84 $13.84
$167 €149
-91.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.64 $2.64
$18.80 €16.72
-85.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.25 $27.25
$33.09 €29.43
-17.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.18 $19.18
$46.01 €40.93
-58.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.12 $15.12
$19.19 €17.07
-21.21%
Cinema Ticket
$2.05 $2.05
$9.84 €8.75
-79.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$41.26 $41.26
$677 €602
-93.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$628 $628
$16.9K €15.1K
-96.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.15 $20.15
$101 €90.1
-80.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.41 $38.41
$45.76 €40.70
-16.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 $94.7
$100.0 €88.9
-5.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8 $68.8
$123 €109
-43.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 $215
$1,614 €1,436
-86.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 $151
$1,197 €1,065
-87.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 $401
$2,862 €2,545
-85.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 $269
$1,990 €1,770
-86.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,140 $1,140
$7,577 €6,740
-84.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 $685
$4,307 €3,831
-84.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$250 $250
$1,588 €1,412
-84.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.5
3.85
458.44%

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

Last update for Mashhad: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
$151
Lisbon
$1.2K 692% $1K
Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
$100
Lisbon
$166 66.5% $66
Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
$100
Lisbon
$269 170% $170
Eating Out
Mashhad
$54
Lisbon
$242 347% $188
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
$44
Lisbon
$219 402% $176
Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
$23
Lisbon
$66 182% $42
Getting Around
Mashhad
$6.3
Lisbon
$63 895% $57

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $215 in Mashhad and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 536% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mashhad vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $269 per month, with Mashhad cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Mashhad
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
04:34 4:34 AM
02:04 2:04 AM
2 h 30 min behind Mashhad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,001,184
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
USD USD
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mashhad Lisbon 5,920 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mashhad
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mashhad and in Lisbon?
Mashhad and Lisbon differ by about 365% in total monthly costs ($478 vs $2,223 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 536% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mashhad and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $215 in Mashhad versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mashhad and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $41.26 in Mashhad versus $677 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 170% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $478 in Mashhad versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mashhad and Lisbon?
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.
Is Mashhad or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mashhad and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mashhad or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 365% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mashhad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?