Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Karaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Karaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $547 in Shiraz versus $529 in Karaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $871 in Shiraz versus $976 in Karaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,195 in Shiraz versus $1,423 in Karaj.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 3% more expensive than Karaj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 59% lower, Karaj 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 $5.82

$4.06 $4.06

43.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.28 $14.28

$18.13 $18.13

-21.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 $3.56

$5.05 $5.05

-29.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.63 $0.63

15.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.05 $1.05

88.57%

Cappuccino

$0.97 $0.97

$1.32 $1.32

-26.52%

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

$1.47 $1.47

$0.46 $0.46

219.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.07 $1.07

13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.63 $0.63

1.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.58 $0.58

-18.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.92 $1.92

-18.23%

Eggs

$1.14 $1.14

$1.00 $1.00

14.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.53 $3.53

-15.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.24 $3.24

13.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.75 $10.75

-7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.82 $0.82

12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.43 $1.43

24.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.82 $0.82

12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.50 $0.50

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.42 $0.42

23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.47 $0.47

-4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.63 $0.63

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.20 $0.20

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.98 $0.98

-1.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.46 $0.46

34.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.32 $1.32

3.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.52 $2.52

-9.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.23 $0.23

-13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.32 $2.32

$13.01 $13.01

-82.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.31 $0.31

-41.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.63 $2.63

-36.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.74 $0.74

-6.76%

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

$75.0K $75.0K

$79.8K $79.8K

-5.99%

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

$79.8K $79.8K

$54.2K $54.2K

47.26%

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

$35.82 $35.82

$14.13 $14.13

153.50%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.22 $2.22

-8.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.16 $19.16

$5.89 $5.89

225.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.92 $15.92

$22.36 $22.36

-28.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.87 $9.87

58.97%

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 $1.97

$1.53 $1.53

28.76%

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

$156 $156

$127 $127

22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,171 $2,171

$829 $829

162.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.04 $24.04

$25.12 $25.12

-4.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.43 $20.43

$33.80 $33.80

-39.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 $71.7

$95.8 $95.8

-25.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.56 $41.56

$59.2 $59.2

-29.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 $284

$367 $367

-22.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 $208

$197 $197

5.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 $467

$893 $893

-47.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 $403

$618 $618

-34.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,067 $1,067

$1,273 $1,273

-16.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$525 $525

$530 $530

-0.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 $247

$242 $242

1.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

22.67

-1.90%

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

Last update for Shiraz: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karaj: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Shiraz and $367 in Karaj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shiraz pays 2% 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 Shiraz vs $18.00 in Karaj. Groceries flip the comparison at $109 vs $108, with Karaj cheaper for home cooking.

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

Shiraz vs Karaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shiraz and Karaj differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($547 vs $529 including rent). Karaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Shiraz pays 2% 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: $284 in Shiraz versus $367 in Karaj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Shiraz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karaj 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, Shiraz and Karaj 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 Karaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.