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: $454 in Mashhad versus $533 in Malayer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $784 in Mashhad versus $832 in Malayer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,115 in Mashhad versus $1,130 in Malayer.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 15% less than in Malayer, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 66% lower, Malayer 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 $2.98

$3.94 $3.94

-24.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.35 $20.35

$16.81 $16.81

21.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.39 $4.39

14.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.63 $0.63

-22.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.05 $1.05

-12.38%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.42 $0.42

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$1.00 $1.00

-56.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.58 $0.58

-8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.51 $0.51

-47.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.94 $1.94

-2.58%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$1.15 $1.15

-1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.51 $3.51

-39.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.22 $3.22

-22.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$10.17 $10.17

0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.35 $1.35

-9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.87 $0.87

-2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.59 $0.59

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.51 $0.51

-7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.48 $0.48

2.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.56 $0.56

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.25 $0.25

28.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.68 $0.68

29.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.46 $0.46

60.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.36 $1.36

-33.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.23 $2.23

21.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.33 $4.33

$9.94 $9.94

-56.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.29 $0.29

79.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.03 $2.03

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.76 $0.76

9.21%

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

$59.9K $59.9K

$71.8K $71.8K

-16.58%

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

$70.3K $70.3K

$55.8K $55.8K

26.02%

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

$13.51 $13.51

$15.99 $15.99

-15.51%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.06 $2.06

14.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.62 $5.62

1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.79 $18.79

$15.70 $15.70

19.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 $15.12

$12.67 $12.67

19.34%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$1.54 $1.54

32.47%

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

$46.74 $46.74

$117 $117

-59.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$626 $626

$2,002 $2,002

-68.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.36 $22.36

$22.29 $22.29

0.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.55 $37.55

$24.52 $24.52

53.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 $94.4

$108 $108

-12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 $86.9

$69.2 $69.2

25.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$291 $291

-27.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 $147

$198 $198

-25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 $452

$639 $639

-29.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 $322

$318 $318

1.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,158 $1,158

$1,132 $1,132

2.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$677 $677

$585 $585

15.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 $257

$219 $219

17.30%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Malayer: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Mashhad and $291 in Malayer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mashhad pays 17% 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 $17.00 in Malayer. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $107, 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 Malayer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% 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: $212 in Mashhad versus $291 in Malayer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $46.74 in Mashhad versus $117 in Malayer. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 18% less than in Malayer. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.