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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $291 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $404 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $454 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $595 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $617 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $787 in Khost.

Living in Mazar-i-Sharif costs roughly 28% less than in Khost, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower, Khost 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ؋144

$2.69 ؋173

-16.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.93 ؋960

$7.54 ؋485

98.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.85 ؋248

$4.47 ؋287

-13.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.64 ؋491

$2.23 ؋143

242.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 ؋491

$1.84 ؋118

314.67%

Cappuccino

$1.22 ؋78.7

$1.09 ؋70.3

11.93%

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

$0.57 ؋36.81

$0.48 ؋31.01

18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ؋20.11

$0.13 ؋8.57

138.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.62 ؋39.98

$0.81 ؋52.3

-23.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 ؋10.57

$0.23 ؋14.69

-30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 ؋129

$1.78 ؋114

12.92%

Eggs

$1.63 ؋105

$1.56 ؋100

4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 ؋501

$4.30 ؋276

80.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 ؋217

$4.02 ؋259

-15.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.15 ؋395

$6.50 ؋418

-5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 ؋35.44

$0.67 ؋42.94

-17.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ؋74.1

$0.88 ؋56.8

30.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 ؋50.7

$0.89 ؋57.3

-11.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ؋38.85

$0.54 ؋34.88

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ؋30.00

$0.63 ؋40.39

-25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ؋26.38

$0.50 ؋31.88

-18.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ؋35.71

$0.30 ؋19.34

86.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ؋18.59

$0.38 ؋24.47

-23.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 ؋115

$1.83 ؋118

-2.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ؋47.84

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ؋63.2

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ؋99.1

$2.30 ؋148

-33.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ؋51.0

$0.43 ؋27.61

83.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.00 ؋1,157

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 ؋46.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ؋28.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ؋99.1

$2.31 ؋148

-33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ؋93.7

$1.04 ؋66.7

40.38%

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

$9,816 ؋631.2K

$8,418 ؋541.2K

16.62%

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

$34.0K ؋2.2M

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

$79.7 ؋5,125

$42.46 ؋2,730

87.71%

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

$16.74 ؋1,077

$12.98 ؋834

28.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$97.1 ؋6,243

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.38 ؋732

$7.69 ؋495

47.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.68 ؋237

$6.02 ؋387

-38.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 ؋290

$2.22 ؋143

103.15%

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

$76.0 ؋4,889

$20.05 ؋1,289

279.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,039 ؋66.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.83 ؋825

$10.61 ؋682

20.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.75 ؋1,012

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 ؋3,691

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.94 ؋1,154

$24.86 ؋1,598

-27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$30.06 ؋1,933

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$15.11 ؋971

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 ؋4,926

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$45.19 ؋2,906

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$231 ؋14.9K

$180 ؋11.6K

28.37%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Khost: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mazar-i-Sharif pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $8.00 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $105 vs $100 per month, with Khost cheaper across the board.

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 Khost: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mazar-i-Sharif is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Mazar-i-Sharif, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $76.0 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $20.05 in Khost. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mazar-i-Sharif – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $8.00 in Khost. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Khost. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.