Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rasht and in Mashhad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $476 per month in Rasht vs $478 in Mashhad, rent included.
Rasht $476
Mashhad $478
A couple spends around $737 per month in Rasht vs $769 in Mashhad, rent included.
Rasht $737
Mashhad $769
A family of three spends $998 per month in Rasht vs $1,060 in Mashhad, rent included.
Rasht $998
Mashhad $1,060
🙂
Rasht is about 1% cheaper than Mashhad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.
📊
Both Rasht and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Rasht65% lower, Mashhad65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72$3.72
$2.94$2.94
26.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.25$16.25
$18.79$18.79
-13.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.03$4.03
$4.97$4.97
-18.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.73$0.73
$0.57$0.57
28.07%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$0.91$0.91
7.69%
Cappuccino
$1.37$1.37
$1.08$1.08
26.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50$0.50
$0.43$0.43
16.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01$1.01
$0.26$0.26
288.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.55$0.55
$0.65$0.65
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52$0.52
$0.21$0.21
147.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89$1.89
$1.93$1.93
-2.07%
Eggs
$1.28$1.28
$1.16$1.16
10.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$2.10$2.10
110.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$2.75$2.75
-10.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.43$9.43
$10.32$10.32
-8.62%
Apples(1kg)
$0.75$0.75
$0.89$0.89
-15.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35$1.35
$1.55$1.55
-12.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72$0.72
$0.85$0.85
-15.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50$0.50
$0.58$0.58
-13.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44$0.44
$0.49$0.49
-10.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51$0.51
$0.44$0.44
15.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37$0.37
$0.52$0.52
-28.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24$0.24
$0.29$0.29
-17.24%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.83$0.83
$0.93$0.93
-10.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.26$0.26
$0.78$0.78
-66.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32$1.32
$0.93$0.93
41.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.62$1.62
$3.05$3.05
-46.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17$0.17
$0.02$0.02
750.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.81$10.81
$3.68$3.68
193.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51$0.51
$0.18$0.18
183.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21$0.21
$0.48$0.48
-56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.47$1.47
$2.02$2.02
-27.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.09$0.09
$0.83$0.83
-89.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.9K$49.9K
$60.8K$60.8K
-17.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.2K$44.2K
$66.2K$66.2K
-33.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.97$12.97
$13.84$13.84
-6.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.62$1.62
$2.64$2.64
-38.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.78$3.78
$27.25$27.25
-86.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.97$17.97
$19.18$19.18
-6.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.83$11.83
$15.12$15.12
-21.76%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02$1.02
$2.05$2.05
-50.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.7$82.7
$41.26$41.26
100.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,607$2,607
$628$628
315.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.23$16.23
$20.15$20.15
-19.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.73$24.73
$38.41$38.41
-35.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112$112
$94.7$94.7
17.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8$74.8
$68.8$68.8
8.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$210$210
$215$215
-2.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157$157
$151$151
3.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389$389
$401$401
-2.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213$213
$269$269
-20.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,226$1,226
$1,140$1,140
7.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$618$618
$685$685
-9.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rasht
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$210$210
$250$250
-16.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19
21.5
-11.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rasht: October 13, 2026
Last update for Mashhad: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Rasht
$157 32.9%
Mashhad
$151 31.6% ↓ 3.6%$5.6
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Rasht
$102 21.5%
Mashhad
$100 20.9% ↓ 2.3%$2.3
🛒Groceries & Markets
Rasht
$101 21.3%
Mashhad
$100 20.9% ↓ 1.2%$1.3
🍽Eating Out
Rasht
$64 13.5%
Mashhad
$54 11.3% ↓ 15.8%$10
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Rasht
$20 4.2%
Mashhad
$23 4.9% ↑ 16.4%$3.3
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rasht
$18 3.9%
Mashhad
$44 9.1% ↑ 138%$25
🚌Getting Around
Rasht
$13 2.7%
Mashhad
$6.3 1.3% ↓ 51.5%$6.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Rasht
$213 21.3%
Mashhad
$269 25.4% ↑ 26.3%$56
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Rasht
$227 22.8%
Mashhad
$222 20.9% ↓ 2.3%$5.2
🛒Groceries & Markets
Rasht
$249 24.9%
Mashhad
$247 23.3% ↓ 0.8%$1.9
🍽Eating Out
Rasht
$210 21.1%
Mashhad
$202 19% ↓ 4.1%$8.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Rasht
$52 5.2%
Mashhad
$62 5.8% ↑ 19%$9.9
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rasht
$20 2%
Mashhad
$46 4.4% ↑ 132%$26
🚌Getting Around
Rasht
$26 2.7%
Mashhad
$13 1.2% ↓ 52%$14
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $210 in Rasht versus $215 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 19% higher in Mashhad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Rasht versus $19.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $101 in Rasht vs $100 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Rasht vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rasht or Mashhad?
Mashhad costs about 1% more than Rasht, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rasht and in Mashhad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $714 per month in Rasht and $718 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rasht or Mashhad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rasht, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Rasht compared to Mashhad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $476 in Rasht and $478 in Mashhad. That's a gap of about 1%.
How expensive is transport in Rasht compared to Mashhad?
Public transport costs about 194% less in Rasht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Rasht or in Mashhad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $476 in Rasht and $478 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Rasht – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rasht compared to Mashhad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Rasht or to Mashhad?
If budget matters most, go with Rasht. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mashhad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.