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: $547 in Shiraz versus $442 in Urmia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $870 in Shiraz versus $724 in Urmia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,193 in Shiraz versus $1,007 in Urmia.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 24% more expensive than in Urmia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 59% lower, Urmia 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.02 $6.02

$3.72 $3.72

61.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.23 $14.23

$17.15 $17.15

-17.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.46 $4.46

-19.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.22 $1.22

-40.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.62 $1.62

20.37%

Cappuccino

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 $1.20

-15.00%

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

$1.48 $1.48

$0.91 $0.91

62.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.57 $0.57

101.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.62 $0.62

4.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.72 $0.72

-34.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.35 $2.35

-34.47%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$1.18 $1.18

-4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.42 $3.42

-13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.47 $2.47

49.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.69 $9.69

$6.57 $6.57

47.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.86 $0.86

9.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.42 $1.42

23.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.78 $0.78

26.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.68 $0.68

-20.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.49 $0.49

6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.52 $0.52

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.55 $0.55

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.23 $0.23

4.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.56 $0.56

83.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.50 $0.50

32.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.36 $1.36

5.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.17 $1.17

101.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.21 $0.21

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.32 $2.32

$9.82 $9.82

-76.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.41 $0.41

-24.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.26 $0.26

-26.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.04 $2.04

-17.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.78 $0.78

-11.54%

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

$75.5K $75.5K

$77.4K $77.4K

-2.41%

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

$80.6K $80.6K

$44.1K $44.1K

82.98%

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

$36.50 $36.50

$15.65 $15.65

133.23%

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

$1.99 $1.99

$2.12 $2.12

-6.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.19 $19.19

$5.88 $5.88

226.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.73 $15.73

$22.25 $22.25

-29.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.67 $15.67

$5.41 $5.41

189.65%

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 $1.95

$1.54 $1.54

26.62%

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

$151 $151

$118 $118

28.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,142 $2,142

$1,980 $1,980

8.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.79 $23.79

$22.05 $22.05

7.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 $20.42

$24.53 $24.53

-16.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 $72.4

$111 $111

-34.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.78 $40.78

$32.74 $32.74

24.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 $291

$170 $170

71.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 $205

$129 $129

58.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 $466

$329 $329

41.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 $401

$272 $272

47.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,155 $1,155

$708 $708

63.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$535 $535

$588 $588

-9.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 $230

$192 $192

20.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

5.90%

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

Last update for Shiraz: July 12, 2026

Last update for Urmia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $291 in Shiraz and $170 in Urmia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shiraz pays 20% 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 $17.00 in Urmia. Groceries flip the comparison at $108 vs $97.0, 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Shiraz, 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: $291 in Shiraz versus $170 in Urmia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Shiraz versus $118 in Urmia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 24% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.