Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad, Iran and Tehran

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $478 a month against $629 in Tehran, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

23

Cost of Living Index in Mashhad
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Mashhad Living Index
30

Cost of Living Index in Tehran
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Tehran Living Index

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Mashhad

🇮🇷 Iran

$478

/mo nomad

Tehran

🇮🇷 Iran

$629

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mashhad and in Tehran

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

A single person spends $478 per month in Mashhad vs $629 in Tehran, rent included.

Mashhad $478
Tehran $629

A couple spends around $766 per month in Mashhad vs $1,066 in Tehran, rent included.

Mashhad $766
Tehran $1,066

A family of three spends $1,055 per month in Mashhad vs $1,503 in Tehran, rent included.

Mashhad $1,055
Tehran $1,503

Mashhad is about 24% cheaper than Tehran, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mashhad and Tehran are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Tehran 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 $2.94

$3.45 $3.45

-14.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 $18.29

$16.28 $16.28

12.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.09 $4.09

21.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.72 $0.72

-22.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.52 $1.52

-37.50%

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.32 $1.32

-16.67%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.53 $0.53

-18.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$1.72 $1.72

-84.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.71 $0.71

-14.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 $0.21

$0.62 $0.62

-66.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.34 $3.34

-41.92%

Eggs

$1.12 $1.12

$1.26 $1.26

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$4.51 $4.51

-53.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.36 $3.36

-18.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 $10.34

$10.13 $10.13

2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.38 $1.38

-31.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.87 $1.87

-17.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.14 $1.14

-27.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.64 $0.64

-4.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.55 $0.55

-5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.47 $0.47

-6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.53 $0.53

-1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.30 $0.30

-3.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.79 $0.79

15.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.55 $0.55

40.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

$2.11 $2.11

-57.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.53 $2.53

19.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.02 $0.02

$0.10 $0.10

-80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 $3.58

$5.47 $5.47

-34.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.52 $0.52

-61.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.29 $0.29

79.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.09 $3.09

-35.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.09 $0.09

800.00%

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

$59.3K $59.3K

$51.0K $51.0K

16.33%

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

$68.1K $68.1K

$45.1K $45.1K

51.06%

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

$1.60 $1.60

64.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.95 $26.95

$3.85 $3.85

600.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.25 $19.25

$24.27 $24.27

-20.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.14 $15.14

$13.15 $13.15

15.13%

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 $2.05

$1.95 $1.95

5.13%

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

$41.46 $41.46

$109 $109

-61.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$613 $613

$2,557 $2,557

-76.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.34 $20.34

$26.91 $26.91

-24.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 $38.31

$37.60 $37.60

1.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 $93.2

$118 $118

-20.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 $69.8

$71.7 $71.7

-2.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 $209

$430 $430

-51.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 $151

$269 $269

-43.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 $392

$961 $961

-59.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 $266

$628 $628

-57.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 $1,153

$1,268 $1,268

-9.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$683 $683

$717 $717

-4.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 $250

$211 $211

18.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.5

24.79

-13.27%

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

Last update for Mashhad: October 27, 2026

Last update for Tehran: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mashhad

$151 31.6%

Tehran

$269 42.8% 78.4% $118

Groceries & Markets

Mashhad

$100 20.9%

Tehran

$126 20.1% 26.7% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Mashhad

$100 20.9%

Tehran

$114 18.2% 14.5% $15

Eating Out

Mashhad

$54 11.4%

Tehran

$65 10.3% 19.2% $10

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mashhad

$43 9.1%

Tehran

$18 2.9% 57.6% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Mashhad

$23 4.9%

Tehran

$28 4.5% 20.6% $4.8

Getting Around

Mashhad

$6.5 1.4%

Tehran

$7.8 1.3% 21% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Mashhad versus $430 in Tehran. 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 19% higher in Mashhad, 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 $18 in Mashhad versus $16 in Tehran. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Mashhad vs $126 in Tehran – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇮🇷 Mashhad

🇮🇷 Tehran

🕒 Local time

11:08 11:08 AM

Same time as Mashhad

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,001,184

8,000,000 Capital

💱 Currency

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Mashhad Tehran 740 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mashhad
Tehran

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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran costs about 32% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Mashhad and $943 in Tehran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $430 in Tehran.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Mashhad and $629 in Tehran. That makes Mashhad about 24% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $478 in Mashhad and $629 in Tehran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.