Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Malayer Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Malayer

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $470 in Mashhad versus $512 in Malayer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $767 in Mashhad versus $813 in Malayer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,065 in Mashhad versus $1,113 in Malayer.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 8% less than in Malayer, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 66% lower, Malayer 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 $3.01

$3.05 $3.05

-1.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 $18.34

$18.72 $18.72

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.03 $4.03

23.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.87 $0.87

-31.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.41 $1.41

-30.50%

Cappuccino

$1.13 $1.13

$1.23 $1.23

-8.13%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.50 $0.50

-14.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 $0.28

$0.86 $0.86

-67.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.68 $0.68

-10.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.17 $0.17

$0.49 $0.49

-65.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.04 $2.04

-5.39%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$1.18 $1.18

-2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.63 $3.63

-40.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.08 $3.08

-11.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$10.16 $10.16

-0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.96 $0.96

-2.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.57 $1.57

-1.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.84 $0.84

-3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.56 $0.56

3.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.56 $0.56

-5.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.51 $0.51

-13.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.55 $0.55

-12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.23 $0.23

26.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.55 $0.55

67.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.55 $0.55

34.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.45 $1.45

-35.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.33 $2.33

30.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.02 $0.02

$0.21 $0.21

-90.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.60 $3.60

$7.52 $7.52

-52.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.17 $0.17

$0.43 $0.43

-60.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.27 $0.27

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.34 $2.34

-14.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.08 $0.08

925.00%

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

$59.1K $59.1K

$49.8K $49.8K

18.58%

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

$66.3K $66.3K

$42.9K $42.9K

54.45%

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

$13.67 $13.67

$13.18 $13.18

3.72%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.35 $1.35

95.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 $27.60

$3.86 $3.86

615.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.52 $19.52

$17.85 $17.85

9.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.83 $14.83

$11.93 $11.93

24.31%

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 $2.03

$1.96 $1.96

3.57%

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

$39.89 $39.89

$104 $104

-61.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$612 $612

$1,742 $1,742

-64.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.96 $19.96

$21.19 $21.19

-5.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.25 $38.25

$30.09 $30.09

27.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 $92.1

$104 $104

-11.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.3 $68.3

$78.9 $78.9

-13.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 $211

$294 $294

-28.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 $150

$202 $202

-25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 $394

$665 $665

-40.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 $267

$336 $336

-20.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,132 $1,132

$1,159 $1,159

-2.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 $692

$580 $580

19.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$253 $253

$223 $223

13.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.6

23.21

-6.94%

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

Last update for Mashhad: September 14, 2026

Last update for Malayer: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Mashhad and $294 in Malayer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mashhad pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Mashhad vs $19.00 in Malayer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $109 per month, with Mashhad cheaper across the board.

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 Malayer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Mashhad, 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: $211 in Mashhad versus $294 in Malayer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $39.89 in Mashhad versus $104 in Malayer. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Malayer. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 Malayer 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 9% less than in Malayer. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.