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: $668 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $51 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $836 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $86 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,004 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $121 in Khost.

Living in Mazar-i-Sharif is roughly 1214% more expensive than Khost, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mazar-i-Sharif 50% lower, Khost 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ؋141

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.61 ؋938

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 ؋218

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 ؋226

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 ؋453

Cappuccino

$1.11 ؋71.4

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

$0.53 ؋33.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ؋17.49

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 ؋35.38

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ؋13.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ؋104

Eggs

$1.54 ؋99.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 ؋315

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 ؋239

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 ؋345

Apples (1kg)

$0.53 ؋34.08

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ؋59.8

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 ؋46.70

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 ؋36.46

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ؋29.70

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ؋24.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 ؋26.61

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.33

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.40 ؋89.9

$1.89 ؋121

-25.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 ؋28.29

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ؋74.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.17 ؋75.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ؋30.66

$0.42 ؋26.73

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.75 ؋1,396

$17.29 ؋1,110

25.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ؋44.78

$0.69 ؋44.06

1.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 ؋87.5

$0.68 ؋43.78

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ؋95.0

$2.22 ؋143

-33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ؋71.3

$1.13 ؋72.7

-1.77%

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

$10.0K ؋642.1K

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

$40.6K ؋2.6M

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

$108 ؋6,932

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

$15.70 ؋1,008

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$293 ؋18.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.97 ؋705

$7.33 ؋471

49.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.52 ؋226

$5.61 ؋360

-37.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 ؋270

$2.93 ؋188

43.69%

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

$28.57 ؋1,834

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.11 ؋778

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$16.96 ؋1,089

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$86.3 ؋5,543

$28.95 ؋1,858

198.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$43.06 ؋2,764

$14.19 ؋911

203.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$144 ؋9,267

$71.1 ؋4,564

103.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.3 ؋4,642

$42.38 ؋2,720

70.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 ؋25.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$161 ؋10.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$281 ؋18.1K

$188 ؋12.0K

49.97%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Khost: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $86 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $29 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mazar-i-Sharif pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15 in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $0 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91 vs $0 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

Khost is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 1214% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Mazar-i-Sharif pays 50% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $86.3 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $28.95 in Khost. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 26% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $668 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $50.8 in Khost – a 1214% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Khost 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 Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1214% less than in Mazar-i-Sharif. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.