Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $549 per month in Shiraz vs $454 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $870 per month in Shiraz vs $784 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,191 per month in Shiraz vs $1,115 in Mashhad, rent included.

Shiraz costs about 21% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shiraz and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Shiraz 59% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 $5.82

$2.98 $2.98

95.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 $13.94

$20.35 $20.35

-31.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.04 $5.04

-29.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.49 $0.49

48.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.92 $0.92

110.87%

Cappuccino

$0.97 $0.97

$1.10 $1.10

-11.82%

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

$1.52 $1.52

$0.40 $0.40

280.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.44 $0.44

172.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.53 $0.53

28.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.27 $0.27

88.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.89 $1.89

-16.93%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$1.13 $1.13

1.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.13 $2.13

38.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.49 $2.49

50.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.00 $10.00

$10.21 $10.21

-2.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.85 $0.85

2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.22 $1.22

39.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.85 $0.85

15.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.60 $0.60

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.47 $0.47

2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.49 $0.49

-2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.52 $0.52

32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.32 $0.32

-18.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.88 $0.88

17.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.74 $0.74

-10.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.90 $0.90

57.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.71 $2.71

-14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.22 $0.22

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.29 $2.29

$4.33 $4.33

-47.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.33 $0.33

-12.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.52 $0.52

-61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.02 $2.02

-14.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.83 $0.83

-10.84%

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

$73.8K $73.8K

$59.9K $59.9K

23.34%

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

$78.8K $78.8K

$70.3K $70.3K

11.97%

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

$36.51 $36.51

$13.51 $13.51

170.24%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.35 $2.35

-13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.07 $19.07

$5.68 $5.68

235.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 $15.87

$18.79 $18.79

-15.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.12 $15.12

2.25%

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 $2.05

$2.04 $2.04

0.49%

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

$156 $156

$46.74 $46.74

233.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,139 $2,139

$626 $626

241.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.06 $24.06

$22.36 $22.36

7.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.75 $20.75

$37.55 $37.55

-44.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 $73.5

$94.4 $94.4

-22.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.75 $40.75

$86.9 $86.9

-53.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 $285

$212 $212

34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 $202

$147 $147

37.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 $475

$452 $452

4.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 $398

$322 $322

23.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,129 $1,129

$1,158 $1,158

-2.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$536 $536

$677 $677

-20.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$231 $231

$257 $257

-9.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

20.5

8.49%

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

Last update for Shiraz: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $285 in Shiraz versus $212 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 11% higher in Mashhad, 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 $14.00 in Shiraz versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $110 in Shiraz vs $96.0 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

Shiraz vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shiraz costs about 21% more than Mashhad, 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 $823 per month in Shiraz and $681 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, 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 $549 in Shiraz and $454 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 89% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $549 in Shiraz and $454 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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