Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Mahabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Mahabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Mashhad vs $513 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Mashhad vs $811 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,122 per month in Mashhad vs $1,108 in Mahabad, rent included.

Mashhad is about 12% cheaper than Mahabad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mashhad and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 67% lower, Mahabad 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$2.94 $2.94

2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 $19.84

$17.50 $17.50

13.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.11 $2.11

131.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.81 $0.81

-35.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.05 $1.05

-17.14%

Cappuccino

$1.15 $1.15

$2.35 $2.35

-51.06%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.99 $0.99

-59.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.00 $1.00

-52.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.59 $0.59

-5.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.44 $0.44

-43.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.12 $2.12

-11.79%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$1.17 $1.17

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.29 $3.29

-32.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.18 $3.18

-22.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$7.31 $7.31

42.95%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.74 $0.74

14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.22 $1.22

0.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.83 $0.83

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.43 $0.43

48.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.51 $0.51

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.46 $0.46

4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.29 $0.29

10.34%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.64 $0.64

34.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.48 $0.48

68.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.36 $1.36

-32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.15 $2.15

23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.21 $0.21

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 $4.43

$9.89 $9.89

-55.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.33 $0.33

3.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.27 $0.27

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.95 $1.95

3.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.74 $0.74

13.51%

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

$59.3K $59.3K

$73.0K $73.0K

-18.81%

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

$70.0K $70.0K

$54.7K $54.7K

27.86%

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

$13.97 $13.97

$15.68 $15.68

-10.91%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.11 $2.11

9.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.67 $5.67

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.68 $18.68

$14.45 $14.45

29.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.15 $15.15

$12.72 $12.72

19.10%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$1.54 $1.54

32.47%

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

$45.17 $45.17

$115 $115

-60.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$615 $615

$1,951 $1,951

-68.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.71 $22.71

$22.84 $22.84

-0.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.38 $37.38

$25.41 $25.41

47.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$110 $110

-13.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$69.3 $69.3

23.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 $213

$291 $291

-26.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 $146

$204 $204

-28.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 $458

$644 $644

-28.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$314 $314

3.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,151 $1,151

$856 $856

34.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$676 $676

$557 $557

21.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$274 $274

-7.33%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Mashhad versus $291 in Mahabad. 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 8% higher in Mahabad, 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 Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $95.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mahabad is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $675 per month in Mashhad and $769 in Mahabad. 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.

Kindergarten costs $45.17 per month in Mashhad and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Mahabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $450 in Mashhad and $513 in Mahabad, 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, Mahabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.