Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Qom Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Qom

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Mashhad vs $426 in Qom, rent included.

A couple spends around $800 per month in Mashhad vs $828 in Qom, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Mashhad vs $1,230 in Qom, rent included.

Mashhad costs about 11% more than Qom, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mashhad and Qom are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Qom 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$2.97 $2.97

3.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 $19.80

$14.10 $14.10

40.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.78 $4.78

2.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.51 $0.51

1.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.05 $1.05

-17.14%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$0.92 $0.92

19.57%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.44 $0.44

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.31 $0.31

45.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.53 $0.53

5.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.55 $0.55

-50.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.35 $1.35

37.78%

Eggs

$1.11 $1.11

$0.98 $0.98

13.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.91 $2.91

-24.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.33 $3.33

-25.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$6.88 $6.88

47.67%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.69 $0.69

30.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.22 $1.22

-1.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.87 $0.87

-1.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.41 $0.41

60.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.44 $0.44

2.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.38 $0.38

26.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.41 $0.41

17.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 $0.30

$0.23 $0.23

30.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.87 $0.87

5.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.43 $0.43

86.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.49 $1.49

-38.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.15 $2.15

26.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.39 $0.39

-51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.32 $4.32

$14.30 $14.30

-69.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.14 $0.14

242.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.01 $1.01

95.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.69 $0.69

13.04%

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

$60.0K $60.0K

$81.0K $81.0K

-25.90%

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

$70.2K $70.2K

$54.5K $54.5K

28.91%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$15.83 $15.83

-14.53%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$1.23 $1.23

86.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.50 $15.50

$5.92 $5.92

161.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.56 $18.56

$8.62 $8.62

115.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 $15.07

$9.88 $9.88

52.53%

Cinema Ticket

$1.98 $1.98

$0.97 $0.97

104.12%

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

$45.75 $45.75

$117 $117

-61.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$631 $631

$1,940 $1,940

-67.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.37 $22.37

$15.13 $15.13

47.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.70 $37.70

$12.98 $12.98

190.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 $93.2

$98.9 $98.9

-5.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$50.9 $50.9

68.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 $218

$236 $236

-7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 $145

$159 $159

-9.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$587 $587

-22.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$560 $560

-42.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 $1,167

$895 $895

30.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 $690

$591 $591

16.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$216 $216

16.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

20.33

0.84%

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

Last update for Mashhad: April 26, 2026

Last update for Qom: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Mashhad versus $236 in Qom. 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 16% higher in Mashhad, 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 $14.00 in Qom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $96.0 vs $89.0 – making Qom 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 Qom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad costs about 11% more than Qom, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Mashhad and $638 in Qom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $473 in Mashhad and $426 in Qom. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 231% less in Qom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $473 in Mashhad and $426 in Qom, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Qom – 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 Qom. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mashhad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.