Cost of Living Comparison Between Qom and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Qom and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $435 in Qom versus $692 in Tehran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $828 in Qom versus $1,123 in Tehran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,222 in Qom versus $1,555 in Tehran.

Living in Qom costs roughly 37% less than in Tehran, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qom 67% lower, Tehran 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 $3.05

$4.05 $4.05

-24.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 $14.26

$18.29 $18.29

-22.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.10 $5.10

-4.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.63 $0.63

-17.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.01 $1.01

4.95%

Cappuccino

$0.89 $0.89

$1.30 $1.30

-31.54%

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

$0.44 $0.44

$0.45 $0.45

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$1.08 $1.08

-73.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.58 $0.58

-15.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.54 $0.54

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.85 $1.85

-29.73%

Eggs

$1.02 $1.02

$1.19 $1.19

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.36 $3.36

-11.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.36 $3.36

-2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$10.76 $10.76

-36.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.93 $0.93

-19.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.41 $1.41

-9.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 $0.38

$0.63 $0.63

-39.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.51 $0.51

-15.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.50 $0.50

-16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.60 $0.60

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.58 $0.58

1.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.59 $0.59

-27.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.60 $1.60

-4.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.45 $2.45

-12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 $0.39

$0.24 $0.24

62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.66 $14.66

$9.90 $9.90

48.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.48 $0.48

-35.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 $0.17

$0.29 $0.29

-41.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 $0.99

$3.08 $3.08

-67.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.78 $0.78

-6.41%

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

$78.8K $78.8K

$79.7K $79.7K

-1.10%

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

$54.1K $54.1K

$53.9K $53.9K

0.46%

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

$15.84 $15.84

$15.97 $15.97

-0.81%

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

$1.27 $1.27

$2.17 $2.17

-41.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.78 $5.78

$5.60 $5.60

3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.86 $8.86

$22.81 $22.81

-61.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 $9.72

$11.73 $11.73

-17.14%

Cinema Ticket

$0.99 $0.99

$1.53 $1.53

-35.29%

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

$114 $114

$127 $127

-10.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 $1,988

$1,949 $1,949

2.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.26 $15.26

$31.39 $31.39

-51.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.06 $13.06

$34.37 $34.37

-62.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$124 $124

-19.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.14 $49.14

$69.9 $69.9

-29.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 $242

$491 $491

-50.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 $162

$347 $347

-53.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 $575

$1,012 $1,012

-43.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 $569

$719 $719

-20.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$901 $901

$1,244 $1,244

-27.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$611 $611

$734 $734

-16.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 $214

$217 $217

-1.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.33

25.07

-18.91%

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

Last update for Qom: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tehran: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Qom and $491 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tehran pays 1% 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: $14.00 in Qom vs $18.00 in Tehran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $110 per month, with Qom cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Qom vs Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qom wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Tehran. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qom the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Tehran. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Qom versus $491 in Tehran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Qom – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $18.00 in Tehran. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $435 per month in Qom versus $692 in Tehran – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Qom 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.

Safety-wise, Qom and Tehran are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Qom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.