Cost of Living Comparison Between Sari and Shiraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Sari and Shiraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $575 in Sari versus $547 in Shiraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $827 in Sari versus $871 in Shiraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,079 in Sari versus $1,195 in Shiraz.

Living in Sari is roughly 5% more expensive than Shiraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sari 57% lower, Shiraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$5.82 $5.82

-33.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.17 $11.17

$14.28 $14.28

-21.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.56 $3.56

41.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.73 $0.73

-15.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.98 $1.98

-47.47%

Cappuccino

$0.77 $0.77

$0.97 $0.97

-20.62%

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

$0.42 $0.42

$1.47 $1.47

-71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.21 $1.21

-57.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.47 $0.47

21.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.57 $1.57

21.66%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$1.14 $1.14

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.97 $2.97

18.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.69 $3.69

-17.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$9.92 $9.92

-24.09%

Apples (1kg)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.92 $0.92

-54.35%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.78 $1.78

-46.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.92 $0.92

-9.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.55 $0.55

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.45 $0.45

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.70 $0.70

-15.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 $0.15

$0.24 $0.24

-37.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.97 $0.97

-29.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.62 $0.62

-45.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.37 $1.37

14.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.29 $2.29

-14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 $0.12

$0.20 $0.20

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.15 $10.15

$2.32 $2.32

337.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.31 $0.31

54.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.18 $0.18

61.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.68 $1.68

44.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.69 $0.69

5.80%

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

$81.2K $81.2K

$75.0K $75.0K

8.26%

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

$55.4K $55.4K

$79.8K $79.8K

-30.65%

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

$15.93 $15.93

$35.82 $35.82

-55.53%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$2.03 $2.03

8.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.68 $5.68

$19.16 $19.16

-70.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.15 $32.15

$15.92 $15.92

101.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 $10.99

$15.69 $15.69

-29.96%

Cinema Ticket

$1.03 $1.03

$1.97 $1.97

-47.72%

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

$49.53 $49.53

$156 $156

-68.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$787 $787

$2,171 $2,171

-63.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.73 $30.73

$24.04 $24.04

27.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.51 $34.51

$20.43 $20.43

68.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$71.7 $71.7

68.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.7 $68.7

$41.56 $41.56

65.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$541 $541

$284 $284

90.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 $232

$208 $208

11.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 $633

$467 $467

35.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 $301

$403 $403

-25.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,036 $1,036

$1,067 $1,067

-2.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 $457

$525 $525

-13.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 $381

$247 $247

54.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

22.24

12.72%

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

Last update for Sari: April 26, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $541 in Sari and $284 in Shiraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sari pays 54% 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: $11.00 in Sari vs $14.00 in Shiraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $109 per month, with Sari 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

Sari vs Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sari and Shiraz differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($575 vs $547 including rent). Shiraz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Sari pays 54% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $541 in Sari versus $284 in Shiraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sari pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Shiraz – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $11.00 in Sari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Shiraz 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, Sari and Shiraz 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 Shiraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Sari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.