Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Urmia Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Urmia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $485 per month in Mashhad vs $420 in Urmia, rent included.

A couple spends around $781 per month in Mashhad vs $715 in Urmia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,077 per month in Mashhad vs $1,010 in Urmia, rent included.

Mashhad costs about 15% more than Urmia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mashhad and Urmia are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 65% lower, Urmia 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$4.94 $4.94

-37.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.67 $18.67

$23.88 $23.88

-21.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.95 $2.95

72.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 $0.60

$1.27 $1.27

-52.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.62 $1.62

-39.51%

Cappuccino

$1.14 $1.14

$1.09 $1.09

4.59%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.75 $0.75

-42.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.49 $0.49

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.58 $0.58

5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.43 $0.43

-55.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Eggs

$1.11 $1.11

$1.22 $1.22

-9.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.55 $3.55

-41.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.45 $2.45

10.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 $10.27

$6.60 $6.60

55.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.92 $0.92

3.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.43 $1.43

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.77 $0.77

3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.63 $0.63

-1.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.52 $0.52

-5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.54 $0.54

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.60 $0.60

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.22 $0.22

31.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.68 $0.68

35.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.53 $0.53

39.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.46 $1.46

-36.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.17 $1.17

152.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.02 $0.02

$0.17 $0.17

-88.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.61 $3.61

$7.47 $7.47

-51.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.47 $0.47

-61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.29 $0.29

75.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.32 $2.32

-12.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.09 $0.09

766.67%

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

$60.1K $60.1K

$50.6K $50.6K

18.65%

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

$66.0K $66.0K

$43.1K $43.1K

53.00%

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

$13.70 $13.70

$13.20 $13.20

3.79%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.69 $1.69

55.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 $28.04

$3.76 $3.76

645.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.30 $19.30

$9.38 $9.38

105.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 $15.13

$13.52 $13.52

11.91%

Cinema Ticket

$1.96 $1.96

$2.03 $2.03

-3.45%

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

$40.00 $40.00

$110 $110

-63.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$630 $630

$1,577 $1,577

-60.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.27 $20.27

$21.57 $21.57

-6.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.27 $39.27

$27.86 $27.86

40.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 $95.0

$106 $106

-10.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.5 $68.5

$32.55 $32.55

110.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 $207

$170 $170

21.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 $149

$132 $132

13.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 $389

$324 $324

19.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 $272

$268 $268

1.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 $1,153

$709 $709

62.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 $690

$599 $599

15.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$285 $285

-10.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.6

23.21

-6.94%

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

Last update for Mashhad: August 29, 2026

Last update for Urmia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $207 in Mashhad versus $170 in Urmia. 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 12% higher in Urmia, 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 $19.00 in Mashhad versus $24.00 in Urmia. Groceries tell a different story – $99.0 in Mashhad vs $95.0 in Urmia – so Urmia 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 Urmia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad costs about 15% more than Urmia, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $727 per month in Mashhad and $630 in Urmia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Urmia, 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 $485 in Mashhad and $420 in Urmia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 107% less in Urmia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $485 in Mashhad and $420 in Urmia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Urmia – 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 Urmia. 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.