Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Iran

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $497 in Iran, rent and utilities included – about $170 less a year. The total is higher in Iran despite lower rent and utilities.

Pakistan
Iran
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$483
/mo nomad
🇮🇷 Iran
$497
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in Iran

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Iran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $483 per month in Pakistan vs $497 in Iran, rent included.

  • Pakistan $483
  • Iran $497

A couple spends around $736 per month in Pakistan vs $809 in Iran, rent included.

  • Pakistan $736
  • Iran $809

A family of three spends $988 per month in Pakistan vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.

  • Pakistan $988
  • Iran $1,121

The regional cost range is wider in Iran ($361–$874) than in Pakistan ($291–$607), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Pakistan is roughly 3% lower than in Iran on average.

Both Pakistan and Iran are more affordable than the global median – Pakistan 65% lower, Iran 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11 PKR 582
$3.41 $3.41
-38.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97 PKR 3,864
$15.99 $15.99
-12.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.50 PKR 1,522
$3.95 $3.95
39.24%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 PKR 615
$0.85 $0.85
161.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 PKR 1,193
$1.11 $1.11
288.29%
Cappuccino
$1.97 PKR 545
$1.18 $1.18
66.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 105
$0.53 $0.53
-28.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.6
$0.85 $0.85
-72.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 239
$0.62 $0.62
40.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 PKR 165
$0.48 $0.48
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 334
$2.35 $2.35
-48.51%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 334
$1.11 $1.11
9.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.42 PKR 1,500
$3.74 $3.74
44.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 PKR 782
$3.00 $3.00
-5.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.06 PKR 1,400
$9.85 $9.85
-48.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 331
$0.97 $0.97
23.71%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 176
$1.47 $1.47
-56.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 PKR 241
$0.89 $0.89
-2.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 148
$0.58 $0.58
-6.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 91.8
$0.51 $0.51
-35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 108
$0.46 $0.46
-15.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.51 $0.51
-27.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 PKR 113
$0.23 $0.23
78.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.08 PKR 575
$1.01 $1.01
105.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 PKR 296
$0.53 $0.53
101.89%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 PKR 652
$1.44 $1.44
63.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 593
$2.21 $2.21
-3.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.0
$0.15 $0.15
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.01 PKR 2,767
$10.20 $10.20
-1.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 PKR 243
$0.52 $0.52
69.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 PKR 155
$0.31 $0.31
80.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 PKR 613
$2.43 $2.43
-8.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 PKR 357
$0.28 $0.28
360.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
$59.2K $59.2K
-69.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K PKR 6.7M
$52.7K $52.7K
-53.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 PKR 30.5K
$13.72 $13.72
703.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41 PKR 1,495
$2.30 $2.30
135.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79 PKR 4,367
$6.70 $6.70
135.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.50 PKR 5,117
$16.70 $16.70
10.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09 PKR 3,066
$12.24 $12.24
-9.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.32 PKR 1,194
$1.54 $1.54
180.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.4 PKR 15.6K
$81.3 $81.3
-30.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,511 PKR 418.0K
$1,146 $1,146
31.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.56 PKR 4,857
$22.85 $22.85
-23.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58 PKR 6,521
$26.56 $26.56
-11.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.7 PKR 21.2K
$100 $100
-23.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08 PKR 9,702
$62.5 $62.5
-43.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$150 PKR 41.5K
$252 $252
-40.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$87.4 PKR 24.2K
$180 $180
-51.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 PKR 88.6K
$556 $556
-42.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 PKR 52.5K
$345 $345
-44.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$970 PKR 268.4K
$994 $994
-2.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$520 PKR 144.0K
$585 $585
-10.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$192 PKR 53.1K
$243 $243
-20.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.1
23.39
-39.72%

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

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Iran: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131
Iran
$23 82.7% $109
Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$94
Iran
$108 14.8% $14
Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$87
Iran
$180 106% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$69
Iran
$96 38.8% $27
Eating Out
Pakistan
$59
Iran
$59 1.2% $0.7
Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$27
Iran
$20 27.1% $7.4
Getting Around
Pakistan
$14
Iran
$13 11.1% $1.6

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $137 in Pakistan vs $295 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $261 in Islamabad and $430 in Tehran.

Average salary: $185 in Pakistan vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 115% higher in Iran.

Dining out costs 23% more in Iran.

Salaries are 45% higher in Iran, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Iran.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Pakistan
🇮🇷 Iran
🕒 Local time
02:34 2:34 AM
01:04 1:04 AM
1 h 30 min behind Pakistan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
223,773,700
86,758,304
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 308 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pakistan Iran 1,990 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pakistan
  • Iran

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
Pakistan vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 3% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Pakistan?
Housing costs more in Iran: a central one-bedroom averages $295 versus $137 in Pakistan.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Pakistan?
Pakistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Pakistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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