Cost of Living Comparison Between Rasht and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Rasht and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Rasht vs $485 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $738 per month in Rasht vs $781 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,004 per month in Rasht vs $1,077 in Mashhad, rent included.

Rasht is about 3% cheaper than Mashhad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Rasht and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Rasht 66% lower, Mashhad 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 $3.58

$3.07 $3.07

16.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.74 $16.74

$18.67 $18.67

-10.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.09 $5.09

-21.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.60 $0.60

50.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.98 $0.98

5.10%

Cappuccino

$1.27 $1.27

$1.14 $1.14

11.40%

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

$0.48 $0.48

$0.43 $0.43

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.26 $0.26

273.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.61 $0.61

-8.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.19 $0.19

152.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.94 $1.94

-2.58%

Eggs

$1.23 $1.23

$1.11 $1.11

10.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.07 $2.07

104.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.71 $2.71

-5.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 $9.43

$10.27 $10.27

-8.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.95 $0.95

-22.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.54 $1.54

-15.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.80 $0.80

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.62 $0.62

-24.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.49 $0.49

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.45 $0.45

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.48 $0.48

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.29 $0.29

-10.34%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.92 $0.92

-33.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.74 $0.74

-64.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.92 $0.92

46.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.96 $2.96

-43.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 $0.13

$0.02 $0.02

550.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 $11.07

$3.61 $3.61

206.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.18 $0.18

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.51 $0.51

-52.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.03 $2.03

-27.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

$0.78 $0.78

-88.46%

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

$50.6K $50.6K

$60.1K $60.1K

-15.79%

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

$43.0K $43.0K

$66.0K $66.0K

-34.87%

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

$13.29 $13.29

$13.70 $13.70

-2.99%

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

$1.52 $1.52

$2.63 $2.63

-42.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.62 $3.62

$28.04 $28.04

-87.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.98 $17.98

$19.30 $19.30

-6.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.08 $12.08

$15.13 $15.13

-20.16%

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 $1.02

$1.96 $1.96

-47.96%

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

$84.0 $84.0

$40.00 $40.00

110.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,541 $2,541

$630 $630

303.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.06 $16.06

$20.27 $20.27

-20.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 $24.51

$39.27 $39.27

-37.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 $106

$95.0 $95.0

11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 $78.1

$68.5 $68.5

13.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$207 $207

2.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 $155

$149 $149

3.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 $386

$389 $389

-0.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 $208

$272 $272

-23.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,240 $1,240

$1,153 $1,153

7.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$630 $630

$690 $690

-8.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$254 $254

-17.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.6

-12.04%

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

Last update for Rasht: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Rasht versus $207 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 21% 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 $17.00 in Rasht versus $19.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $101 in Rasht vs $99.0 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mashhad costs about 3% more than Rasht, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $708 per month in Rasht and $727 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $472 in Rasht and $485 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 207% less in Rasht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $472 in Rasht and $485 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

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.