Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Mazar-i-Sharif: $291 a month against $498 in Jalalabad, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. The total is higher in Jalalabad despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Jalalabad
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Jalalabad Living Index

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Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$291

/mo nomad

Jalalabad

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$498

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $291 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $498 in Jalalabad, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $291
Jalalabad $498

A couple spends around $459 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $682 in Jalalabad, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $459
Jalalabad $682

A family of three spends $628 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $866 in Jalalabad, rent included.

Mazar-i-Sharif $628
Jalalabad $866

Mazar-i-Sharif is about 42% cheaper than Jalalabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Mazar-i-Sharif and Jalalabad are more affordable than the global median – Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower, Jalalabad 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ؋151

$2.28 ؋148

2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.33 ؋995

$7.83 ؋508

95.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ؋254

$3.88 ؋252

1.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 ؋512

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 ؋485

Cappuccino

$1.23 ؋79.7

$0.76 ؋49.16

61.84%

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

$0.54 ؋34.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.43

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 ؋39.00

$0.89 ؋57.6

-32.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.17 ؋10.76

$0.40 ؋25.78

-57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 ؋136

$1.88 ؋122

11.70%

Eggs

$1.59 ؋103

$1.69 ؋110

-5.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 ؋492

$5.49 ؋356

38.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ؋225

$2.73 ؋177

27.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.30 ؋409

$6.03 ؋392

4.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 ؋35.86

$0.65 ؋42.24

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ؋72.7

$0.60 ؋39.06

86.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 ؋54.0

$0.74 ؋48.14

12.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ؋39.67

$0.47 ؋30.53

29.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 ؋30.93

$0.36 ؋23.57

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ؋26.76

$0.29 ؋19.13

41.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ؋36.45

$0.33 ؋21.12

69.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.40

$0.30 ؋19.45

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.87 ؋122

$3.92 ؋255

-52.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ؋51.3

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 ؋68.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 ؋98.7

$2.29 ؋149

-33.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ؋49.03

$0.15 ؋9.65

406.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 ؋701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ؋48.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ؋30.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ؋98.3

$1.51 ؋97.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ؋98.7

$1.05 ؋68.3

44.76%

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

$10.1K ؋653.4K

$8,330 ؋540.6K

20.87%

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

$81.5 ؋5,286

$22.69 ؋1,472

258.97%

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

$17.03 ؋1,105

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$231 ؋15.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.75 ؋762

$7.84 ؋509

49.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ؋246

$4.57 ؋296

-17.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.61 ؋299

$1.55 ؋101

197.42%

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

$76.8 ؋4,985

$15.18 ؋985

405.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,212 ؋78.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.11 ؋851

$18.45 ؋1,197

-28.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.17 ؋985

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.51 ؋1,526

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.61 ؋1,208

$30.62 ؋1,987

-39.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 ؋7,424

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$45.97 ؋2,984

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 ؋15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 ؋7,933

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$466 ؋30.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$232 ؋15.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 ؋14.8K

$185 ؋12.0K

23.10%

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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Jalalabad: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$254 * 51%

Groceries & Markets

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$94 18.9%

Accommodation & Living

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$46 9.2%

Clothing & Footwear

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$39 7.9%

Eating Out

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$39 * 7.8%

Getting Around

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$15 2.9%

Sport & Entertainment

Mazar-i-Sharif

–

Jalalabad

$11 2.2%

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 23% 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 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $8 in Jalalabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $105 vs $94 – making Jalalabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇦🇫 Mazar-i-Sharif

🇦🇫 Jalalabad

🕒 Local time

05:41 5:41 AM

Same time as Mazar-i-Sharif

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

300,600

168,600

💱 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 Jalalabad 390 km

From you

Mazar-i-Sharif
Jalalabad

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 Jalalabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif, $498 in Jalalabad – Mazar-i-Sharif comes out roughly 42% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $436 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif and $746 in Jalalabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $498 in Jalalabad. That makes Mazar-i-Sharif about 42% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $77 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif and $15.18 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 $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $498 in Jalalabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.