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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Mashhad vs $400 in Sanandaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Mashhad vs $666 in Sanandaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,122 per month in Mashhad vs $932 in Sanandaj, rent included.

Mashhad costs about 12% more than Sanandaj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mashhad and Sanandaj are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 67% lower, Sanandaj 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$3.33 $3.33

-9.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 $19.84

$16.67 $16.67

19.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.40 $4.40

11.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.62 $0.62

-16.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.99 $0.99

-12.12%

Cappuccino

$1.15 $1.15

$1.07 $1.07

7.48%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$0.83 $0.83

-51.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.78 $0.78

-38.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.74 $0.74

-24.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.71 $0.71

-64.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.09 $2.09

-10.53%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$1.02 $1.02

12.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.40 $3.40

-35.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.76 $2.76

-10.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$10.07 $10.07

3.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.10 $1.10

-22.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.52 $1.52

-19.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.70 $0.70

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.76 $0.76

-36.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.76 $0.76

-36.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.48 $0.48

-33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.61 $0.61

40.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.50 $0.50

62.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.42 $1.42

-35.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.15 $2.15

23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.17 $0.17

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 $4.43

$9.93 $9.93

-55.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.37 $0.37

-8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.27 $0.27

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.01 $2.01

0.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.73 $0.73

15.07%

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

$59.3K $59.3K

$71.4K $71.4K

-16.98%

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

$70.0K $70.0K

$55.6K $55.6K

25.91%

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

$13.97 $13.97

$10.13 $10.13

37.91%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$3.05 $3.05

-24.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.66 $5.66

1.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.68 $18.68

$5.83 $5.83

220.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.15 $15.15

$12.32 $12.32

22.97%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$0.99 $0.99

106.06%

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

$45.17 $45.17

$115 $115

-60.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$615 $615

$1,998 $1,998

-69.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.71 $22.71

$15.68 $15.68

44.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.38 $37.38

$25.19 $25.19

48.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$62.2 $62.2

53.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$71.0 $71.0

20.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 $213

$156 $156

36.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 $146

$111 $111

32.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 $458

$331 $331

38.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$193 $193

68.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,151 $1,151

$795 $795

44.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$676 $676

$289 $289

134.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$259 $259

-2.06%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sanandaj: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Mashhad versus $156 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 2% higher in Sanandaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Mashhad versus $17.00 in Sanandaj. Groceries tell a different story – $97.0 in Mashhad vs $115 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 12% 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 $675 per month in Mashhad and $600 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 $450 in Mashhad and $400 in Sanandaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 124% 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 $450 in Mashhad and $400 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.