Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat

For one person, living is cheaper in Mazar-i-Sharif: $291 a month against $399 in Herat, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Herat outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$291

/mo nomad

Herat

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$399

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $291 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $399 in Herat, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $291
Herat $399

A couple spends around $459 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $478 in Herat, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $459
Herat $478

A family of three spends $628 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $558 in Herat, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $628
Herat $558

Mazar-i-Sharif is about 27% cheaper than Herat.

Both Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat are more affordable than the global median – Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower, Herat 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ؋152

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.33 ؋995

$9.41 ؋611

62.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ؋255

$3.75 ؋243

4.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 ؋512

$1.52 ؋98.4

418.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 ؋485

$7.87 ؋511

-5.08%

Cappuccino

$1.23 ؋79.7

$0.79 ؋51.5

55.70%

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

$0.54 ؋34.74

$0.44 ؋28.56

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.44

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 ؋39.02

$0.61 ؋39.47

-1.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.17 ؋10.77

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 ؋136

Eggs

$1.59 ؋103

$1.89 ؋123

-15.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 ؋492

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ؋226

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.30 ؋409

$6.28 ؋408

0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 ؋35.88

$0.63 ؋41.15

-12.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ؋72.7

$0.75 ؋48.82

49.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 ؋54.1

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ؋39.69

$0.64 ؋41.71

-4.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ؋30.94

$0.30 ؋19.37

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ؋26.78

$0.32 ؋20.80

28.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ؋36.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.41

$0.30 ؋19.18

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.87 ؋122

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ؋30.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 ؋98.8

$3.17 ؋206

-52.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ؋49.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ؋98.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ؋98.7

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

$10.1K ؋653.8K

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

$81.5 ؋5,289

$312 ؋20.3K

-73.93%

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

$17.03 ؋1,106

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.75 ؋763

$15.41 ؋1,001

-23.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ؋246

Cinema Ticket

$4.61 ؋299

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

$76.8 ؋4,988

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.11 ؋851

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.61 ؋1,209

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 ؋14.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: October 25, 2026

Last update for Herat: October 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $9 in Herat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $105 vs $48 – making Herat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇦🇫 Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Herat

🕒 Local time

12:52 12:52 PM

Same time as Mazar-i-Sharif

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

300,600

349,000

💱 Currency

Afghanistan Afghani AFN ؋

📈 Exchange rate

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.38 EUR

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Mazar-i-Sharif Herat 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Mazar-i-Sharif
Herat

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 Herat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $436 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif and $598 in Herat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 54% cheaper in Herat – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $9 in Herat. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $399 in Herat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.