Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanandaj and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanandaj and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $391 per month in Sanandaj vs $611 in Tehran, rent included.

A couple spends around $650 per month in Sanandaj vs $1,063 in Tehran, rent included.

A family of three spends $909 per month in Sanandaj vs $1,515 in Tehran, rent included.

Sanandaj is about 36% cheaper than Tehran, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sanandaj and Tehran are more affordable than the global median – Sanandaj 71% lower, Tehran 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 $3.23

$3.60 $3.60

-10.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.94 $17.94

$16.55 $16.55

8.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.95 $3.95

-9.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.91 $0.91

-47.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.49 $1.49

-30.87%

Cappuccino

$0.99 $0.99

$1.28 $1.28

-22.66%

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

$0.63 $0.63

$0.51 $0.51

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.73 $1.73

-34.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.71 $0.71

4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.53 $0.53

30.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.46 $3.46

-43.35%

Eggs

$0.99 $0.99

$1.22 $1.22

-18.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.13 $4.13

-10.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.20 $3.20

-16.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.82 $9.82

2.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.27 $1.27

-12.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.78 $1.78

-17.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.15 $1.15

-27.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.71 $0.71

8.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.55 $0.55

30.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.51 $0.51

52.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.54 $0.54

9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

16.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.51 $0.51

1.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.07 $2.07

-29.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.44 $2.44

-0.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.11 $0.11

72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 $7.39

$5.59 $5.59

32.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.48 $0.48

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.92 $2.92

-22.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.08 $0.08

$0.10 $0.10

-20.00%

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

$43.8K $43.8K

$50.2K $50.2K

-12.68%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$43.8K $43.8K

-15.60%

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

$9.84 $9.84

$13.30 $13.30

-26.02%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$1.59 $1.59

88.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.76 $3.76

-9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.03 $6.03

$24.19 $24.19

-75.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.47 $13.47

11.95%

Cinema Ticket

$0.98 $0.98

$1.99 $1.99

-50.75%

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

$108 $108

-0.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,604 $1,604

$2,589 $2,589

-38.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.98 $15.98

$26.19 $26.19

-38.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.23 $28.23

$38.13 $38.13

-25.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 $62.0

$110 $110

-43.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 $71.5

$76.1 $76.1

-6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 $160

$419 $419

-61.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 $114

$254 $254

-55.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 $338

$986 $986

-65.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 $194

$627 $627

-69.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$801 $801

$1,254 $1,254

-36.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$288 $288

$721 $721

-60.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$216 $216

17.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

-6.06%

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

Last update for Sanandaj: September 12, 2026

Last update for Tehran: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Sanandaj versus $419 in Tehran. 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 18% higher in Sanandaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Sanandaj versus $17.00 in Tehran. Groceries tell a different story – $113 in Sanandaj vs $123 in Tehran – so Sanandaj 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

Sanandaj vs Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran costs about 56% more than Sanandaj, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $587 per month in Sanandaj and $917 in Tehran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sanandaj, 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 $391 in Sanandaj and $611 in Tehran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Sanandaj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $391 in Sanandaj and $611 in Tehran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sanandaj – 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 Sanandaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tehran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.