Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Urmia Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Urmia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Shiraz versus $420 in Urmia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Shiraz versus $715 in Urmia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Shiraz versus $1,010 in Urmia.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 28% more expensive than in Urmia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 61% lower, Urmia 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.90 $3.90

$4.94 $4.94

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.81 $11.81

$23.88 $23.88

-50.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.95 $2.95

36.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.27 $1.27

-22.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.62 $1.62

9.88%

Cappuccino

$1.04 $1.04

$1.09 $1.09

-4.59%

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

$0.65 $0.65

$0.75 $0.75

-13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.58 $0.58

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.43 $0.43

2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Eggs

$1.22 $1.22

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.55 $3.55

-34.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.45 $2.45

23.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 $9.98

$6.60 $6.60

51.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.92 $0.92

16.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.43 $1.43

9.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.77 $0.77

16.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.63 $0.63

-7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.52 $0.52

3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.54 $0.54

-1.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.60 $0.60

-21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.16 $0.16

$0.22 $0.22

-27.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.68 $0.68

23.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.53 $0.53

11.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.46 $1.46

13.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.17 $1.17

152.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 $0.10

$0.17 $0.17

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.95 $2.95

$7.47 $7.47

-60.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 $0.38

$0.47 $0.47

-19.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.29 $0.29

-34.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.32 $2.32

53.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

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

$64.4K $64.4K

$50.6K $50.6K

27.19%

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

$53.8K $53.8K

$43.1K $43.1K

24.65%

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

$24.09 $24.09

$13.20 $13.20

82.50%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$1.69 $1.69

18.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.73 $16.73

$3.76 $3.76

344.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.97 $18.97

$9.38 $9.38

102.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.56 $13.56

$13.52 $13.52

0.30%

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 $2.05

$2.03 $2.03

0.99%

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

$104 $104

$110 $110

-5.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,354 $2,354

$1,577 $1,577

49.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.72 $22.72

$21.57 $21.57

5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.46 $18.46

$27.86 $27.86

-33.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 $93.2

$106 $106

-12.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.6 $54.6

$32.55 $32.55

67.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 $295

$170 $170

73.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 $219

$132 $132

65.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 $538

$324 $324

65.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 $317

$268 $268

18.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,121 $1,121

$709 $709

58.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 $501

$599 $599

-16.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 $236

$285 $285

-17.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.8

23.21

2.54%

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

Last update for Shiraz: August 30, 2026

Last update for Urmia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $295 in Shiraz and $170 in Urmia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Urmia pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Shiraz vs $24.00 in Urmia. Groceries flip the comparison at $104 vs $95.0, with Urmia 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 Urmia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Urmia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Urmia. 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: $295 in Shiraz versus $170 in Urmia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $104 in Shiraz versus $110 in Urmia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Shiraz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Urmia 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 Urmia 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 Urmia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.