Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Sanandaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Sanandaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $454 per month in Mashhad vs $396 in Sanandaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $784 per month in Mashhad vs $659 in Sanandaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,115 per month in Mashhad vs $922 in Sanandaj, rent included.

Mashhad costs about 15% more than Sanandaj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mashhad and Sanandaj are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 66% lower, Sanandaj 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 $2.98

$3.16 $3.16

-5.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.35 $20.35

$17.14 $17.14

18.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.42 $4.42

14.03%

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

$0.99 $0.99

-7.07%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.81 $0.81

-50.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.72 $0.72

-38.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.70 $0.70

-24.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.68 $0.68

-60.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.12 $2.12

-10.85%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$0.98 $0.98

15.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.45 $3.45

-38.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.78 $2.78

-10.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$9.87 $9.87

3.44%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.49 $1.49

-18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.88 $0.88

-3.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.76 $0.76

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.76 $0.76

-38.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.75 $0.75

-34.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.48 $0.48

-33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.62 $0.62

41.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.50 $0.50

48.00%

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

$2.17 $2.17

24.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.21 $0.21

4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.33 $4.33

$10.19 $10.19

-57.51%

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

$0.72 $0.72

15.28%

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

$59.9K $59.9K

$71.6K $71.6K

-16.35%

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

$70.3K $70.3K

$54.7K $54.7K

28.50%

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

$13.51 $13.51

$10.06 $10.06

34.29%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.98 $2.98

-21.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.93 $5.93

-4.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.79 $18.79

$6.01 $6.01

212.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 $15.12

$12.60 $12.60

20.00%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$1.01 $1.01

101.98%

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

$46.74 $46.74

$117 $117

-59.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$626 $626

$1,948 $1,948

-67.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.36 $22.36

$15.96 $15.96

40.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.55 $37.55

$25.44 $25.44

47.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 $94.4

$63.1 $63.1

49.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 $86.9

$69.1 $69.1

25.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$157 $157

35.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 $147

$112 $112

31.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 $452

$333 $333

35.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 $322

$194 $194

66.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,158 $1,158

$794 $794

45.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$677 $677

$288 $288

135.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 $257

$250 $250

2.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

-6.82%

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

Last update for Mashhad: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sanandaj: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Mashhad versus $157 in Sanandaj. 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 3% 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 $17.00 in Sanandaj. Groceries tell a different story – $96.0 in Mashhad vs $113 in Sanandaj – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sanandaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad costs about 15% more than Sanandaj, 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 $681 per month in Mashhad and $594 in Sanandaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sanandaj, 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 $454 in Mashhad and $396 in Sanandaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 135% less in Sanandaj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $454 in Mashhad and $396 in Sanandaj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sanandaj – 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 Sanandaj. 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.