Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mazar-i-Sharif and Anar Darreh

For one person, living is cheaper in Anar Darreh: $24.63 a month against $292 in Mazar-i-Sharif, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Mazar-i-Sharif
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Mazar-i-Sharif Living Index

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Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$292

/mo nomad

Anar Darreh

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$24.63

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mazar-i-Sharif and in Anar Darreh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mazar-i-Sharif and in Anar Darreh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $292 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $24.63 in Anar Darreh.

Mazar-i-Sharif $292
Anar Darreh $24.63

Estimated couple costs with rent: $461 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $41.53 in Anar Darreh.

Mazar-i-Sharif $461
Anar Darreh $41.53

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $630 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $58.4 in Anar Darreh.

Mazar-i-Sharif $630
Anar Darreh $58.4

Living in Mazar-i-Sharif is roughly 1087% more expensive than in Anar Darreh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mazar-i-Sharif 78% lower, Anar Darreh 98% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 ؋154

$1.58 ؋102

50.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.47 ؋1,003

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.01 ؋260

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 ؋489

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.50 ؋486

Cappuccino

$1.23 ؋79.8

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

$0.57 ؋36.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.28

Milk (1 liter)

$0.65 ؋42.20

$1.20 ؋77.8

-45.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.15 ؋9.99

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 ؋136

Eggs

$1.65 ؋107

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.49 ؋486

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ؋214

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.09 ؋395

Apples (1kg)

$0.59 ؋38.30

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 ؋73.5

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 ؋53.2

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ؋39.27

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ؋30.46

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ؋24.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ؋36.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ؋20.97

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.86 ؋121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 ؋102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ؋52.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 ؋98.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 ؋99.4

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

$9,927 ؋643.5K

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

$83.3 ؋5,399

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

$16.98 ؋1,101

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.53 ؋747

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.87 ؋251

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 ؋304

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

$76.6 ؋4,967

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.93 ؋838

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.48 ؋1,198

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 ؋15.2K

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

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: October 19, 2026

Last update for Anar Darreh: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Mazar-i-Sharif

$105 35.8%

Anar Darreh

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mazar-i-Sharif

$100 * 34.3%

Anar Darreh

–

Eating Out

Mazar-i-Sharif

$49 16.9%

Anar Darreh

–

Sport & Entertainment

Mazar-i-Sharif

$21 7.2%

Anar Darreh

–

Clothing & Footwear

Mazar-i-Sharif

$14 * 4.8%

Anar Darreh

–

Getting Around

Mazar-i-Sharif

$3.2 * 1.1%

Anar Darreh

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇦🇫 Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Anar Darreh

🕒 Local time

12:58 12:58 PM

Same time as Mazar-i-Sharif

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

300,600

10,023

💱 Currency

Afghanistan Afghani AFN ؋

📈 Exchange rate

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.37 EUR

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Mazar-i-Sharif Anar Darreh 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Mazar-i-Sharif
Anar Darreh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Mazar-i-Sharif vs Anar Darreh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mazar-i-Sharif and Anar Darreh differ by about 1087% in total monthly costs ($292 vs $24.63 including rent). Anar Darreh is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $439 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $36.95 in Anar Darreh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 772% higher in Mazar-i-Sharif. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $292 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $24.63 in Anar Darreh – a 1087% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Anar Darreh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Anar Darreh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1087% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.