Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad, Iran and Qazvin

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $478 a month against $644 in Qazvin, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Qazvin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mashhad, Iran
Qazvin, Iran
Mashhad
🇮🇷 Iran
$478
/mo nomad
Qazvin
🇮🇷 Iran
$644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mashhad and in Qazvin

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 Qazvin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $478 per month in Mashhad vs $644 in Qazvin, rent included.

  • Mashhad $478
  • Qazvin $644

A couple spends around $766 per month in Mashhad vs $923 in Qazvin, rent included.

  • Mashhad $766
  • Qazvin $923

A family of three spends $1,055 per month in Mashhad vs $1,202 in Qazvin, rent included.

  • Mashhad $1,055
  • Qazvin $1,202

Mashhad is about 26% cheaper than Qazvin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mashhad and Qazvin are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Qazvin 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 $2.94
$3.43 $3.43
-14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.29 $18.29
$15.98 $15.98
14.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.41 $3.41
45.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.56 $0.56
$0.67 $0.67
-16.42%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.48 $1.48
-35.81%
Cappuccino
$1.10 $1.10
$1.27 $1.27
-13.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 $0.43
$0.41 $0.41
4.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 $0.26
$1.72 $1.72
-84.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.48 $0.48
27.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 $0.21
$0.31 $0.31
-32.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.72 $2.72
-28.68%
Eggs
$1.12 $1.12
$0.91 $0.91
23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$4.35 $4.35
-52.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.06 $2.06
32.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.34 $10.34
$7.57 $7.57
36.59%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.48 $0.48
95.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.02 $1.02
51.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.71 $0.71
16.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.51 $0.51
19.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.51 $0.51
1.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 $0.44
$0.48 $0.48
-8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.49 $0.49
6.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.29 $0.29
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.91 $0.91
$0.81 $0.81
12.35%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.52 $0.52
48.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 $0.90
$2.16 $2.16
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.55 $2.55
18.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.02 $0.02
$0.13 $0.13
-84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.58 $3.58
$9.65 $9.65
-62.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.20 $0.20
$0.18 $0.18
11.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.31 $0.31
67.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.98 $1.98
0.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.08 $0.08
912.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.3K $59.3K
$42.6K $42.6K
39.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.1K $68.1K
$45.3K $45.3K
50.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.66 $13.66
$12.88 $12.88
6.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.61 $1.61
63.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.95 $26.95
$3.99 $3.99
575.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.25 $19.25
$12.38 $12.38
55.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.14 $15.14
$9.95 $9.95
52.16%
Cinema Ticket
$2.05 $2.05
$1.02 $1.02
100.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$41.46 $41.46
$30.07 $30.07
37.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$613 $613
$761 $761
-19.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.34 $20.34
$26.54 $26.54
-23.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 $38.31
$27.51 $27.51
39.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 $93.2
$98.4 $98.4
-5.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8 $69.8
$50.6 $50.6
37.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 $209
$509 $509
-59.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 $151
$356 $356
-57.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$392 $392
$698 $698
-43.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 $266
$497 $497
-46.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,153 $1,153
$1,145 $1,145
0.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$683 $683
$527 $527
29.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Qazvin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$250 $250
$311 $311
-19.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.5
18
19.44%

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

Last update for Mashhad: October 27, 2026

Last update for Qazvin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
$151
Qazvin
$356 136% $205
Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
$100
Qazvin
$90 9.5% $9.4
Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
$100
Qazvin
$91 8.3% $8.3
Eating Out
Mashhad
$54
Qazvin
$61 13% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
$43
Qazvin
$18 57.3% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
$23
Qazvin
$14 38.3% $9
Getting Around
Mashhad
$6.5
Qazvin
$12 84.3% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Mashhad versus $509 in Qazvin. 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 24% higher in Qazvin, 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 $18 in Mashhad versus $16 in Qazvin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $90 – making Qazvin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Mashhad
🇮🇷 Qazvin
🕒 Local time
08:35 8:35 AM
08:35 8:35 AM
Same time as Mashhad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,001,184
402,748
💱 Currency
USD USD
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mashhad Qazvin 860 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mashhad
  • Qazvin

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 Qazvin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mashhad or Qazvin?
Qazvin costs about 35% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mashhad and in Qazvin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Mashhad and $965 in Qazvin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mashhad or Qazvin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $509 in Qazvin.
How much does it cost to live in Mashhad compared to Qazvin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Mashhad and $644 in Qazvin. That makes Mashhad about 26% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Mashhad compared to Qazvin?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Mashhad or in Qazvin?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $478 in Mashhad and $644 in Qazvin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How safe is Mashhad compared to Qazvin?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Mashhad or to Qazvin?
If budget matters most, go with Mashhad. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Qazvin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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