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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $290 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $490 in Jalalabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $455 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $677 in Jalalabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $620 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $865 in Jalalabad, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif is about 41% cheaper than Jalalabad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mazar-i-Sharif and Jalalabad are more affordable than the global median – Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower, Jalalabad 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.32 ؋149

$2.36 ؋152

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.50 ؋997

$7.52 ؋484

106.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 ؋251

$3.79 ؋244

2.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 ؋497

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 ؋490

Cappuccino

$1.24 ؋79.7

$0.75 ؋48.54

65.33%

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

$0.53 ؋34.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.23

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 ؋39.03

$0.88 ؋56.5

-30.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.15 ؋9.34

$0.40 ؋25.43

-62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 ؋132

$1.83 ؋118

11.48%

Eggs

$1.64 ؋106

$1.67 ؋108

-1.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 ؋508

$5.42 ؋349

45.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ؋223

$2.69 ؋173

29.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 ؋393

$5.97 ؋384

2.35%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 ؋35.47

$0.63 ؋40.66

-12.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ؋76.2

$0.61 ؋38.95

93.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 ؋53.3

$0.79 ؋51.1

5.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 ؋39.74

$0.47 ؋30.39

31.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 ؋33.08

$0.36 ؋23.31

41.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ؋24.95

$0.32 ؋20.81

21.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ؋33.08

$0.30 ؋18.99

70.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ؋20.82

$0.33 ؋20.94

-3.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.89 ؋122

$3.96 ؋254

-52.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ؋48.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ؋68.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 ؋101

$2.37 ؋152

-33.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ؋50.7

$0.13 ؋8.50

507.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.86 ؋699

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ؋48.45

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ؋28.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ؋97.3

$1.50 ؋96.5

0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 ؋98.3

$1.11 ؋71.1

37.84%

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

$9,954 ؋640.4K

$8,328 ؋535.8K

19.53%

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

$82.3 ؋5,296

$22.94 ؋1,476

258.85%

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

$16.76 ؋1,078

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$232 ؋14.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.73 ؋755

$7.51 ؋483

56.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ؋245

$4.67 ؋300

-18.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 ؋303

$1.57 ؋101

200.00%

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

$76.4 ؋4,913

$15.40 ؋991

395.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,244 ؋80.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.95 ؋833

$18.22 ؋1,172

-28.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.33 ؋986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.90 ؋1,474

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.14 ؋1,167

$31.24 ؋2,010

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 ؋7,412

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$45.51 ؋2,928

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 ؋15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 ؋8,008

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$467 ؋30.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$235 ؋15.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$231 ؋14.9K

$186 ؋12.0K

24.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.88

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

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: September 15, 2026

Last update for Jalalabad: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 24% higher in Mazar-i-Sharif, 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 $15.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $8.00 in Jalalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $106 vs $94.0 – making Jalalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jalalabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $290 in Mazar-i-Sharif, $490 in Jalalabad – roughly 69% apart. Jalalabad costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $435 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif and $734 in Jalalabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $290 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $490 in Jalalabad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $76.4 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif and $15.40 in Jalalabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $290 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $490 in Jalalabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

If budget matters most, go with Mazar-i-Sharif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jalalabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.