Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $549 in Shiraz versus $704 in Tehran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Shiraz versus $1,142 in Tehran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,182 in Shiraz versus $1,580 in Tehran.

Living in Shiraz costs roughly 22% less than in Tehran, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 59% lower, Tehran 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.85 $5.85

$4.03 $4.03

45.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.85 $13.85

$18.22 $18.22

-23.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.93 $4.93

-27.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.64 $0.64

12.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.01 $1.01

93.07%

Cappuccino

$1.02 $1.02

$1.26 $1.26

-19.05%

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

$1.48 $1.48

$0.46 $0.46

221.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.08 $1.08

12.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.63 $0.63

7.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.55 $0.55

-14.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.84 $1.84

-13.59%

Eggs

$1.18 $1.18

$1.19 $1.19

-0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.49 $3.49

-13.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.21 $3.21

14.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 $10.03

$10.60 $10.60

-5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.85 $0.85

9.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.40 $1.40

20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.82 $0.82

14.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.62 $0.62

-12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.52 $0.52

-5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.54 $0.54

-9.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.64 $0.64

10.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$0.25 $0.25

4.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.58 $0.58

75.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.58 $0.58

5.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.57 $1.57

-10.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.47 $2.47

-5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.24 $0.24

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.34 $2.34

$10.14 $10.14

-76.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.52 $0.52

-44.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.31 $0.31

-38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.94 $2.94

-43.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.77 $0.77

-9.09%

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

$73.8K $73.8K

$81.4K $81.4K

-9.34%

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

$79.2K $79.2K

$54.8K $54.8K

44.54%

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

$36.19 $36.19

$15.99 $15.99

126.33%

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

$1.98 $1.98

$2.21 $2.21

-10.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.18 $19.18

$5.93 $5.93

223.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.76 $15.76

$22.76 $22.76

-30.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.49 $15.49

$11.83 $11.83

30.94%

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 $1.99

$1.53 $1.53

30.07%

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

$151 $151

$126 $126

19.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,163 $2,163

$1,948 $1,948

11.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.64 $23.64

$30.78 $30.78

-23.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.75 $20.75

$33.81 $33.81

-38.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 $73.5

$120 $120

-38.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.20 $41.20

$70.3 $70.3

-41.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 $286

$488 $488

-41.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 $201

$346 $346

-41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 $476

$1,015 $1,015

-53.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 $409

$704 $704

-41.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,066 $1,066

$1,272 $1,272

-16.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$528 $528

$754 $754

-30.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 $203

$214 $214

-5.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

25.07

-11.29%

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

Last update for Shiraz: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tehran: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Shiraz and $488 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tehran pays 5% 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 Tehran. Groceries flip the comparison at $110 vs $109, with Tehran 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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shiraz is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Tehran earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Shiraz versus $488 in Tehran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Shiraz versus $126 in Tehran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Tehran pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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, Shiraz and Tehran 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 28% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.