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: $554 in Shiraz versus $431 in Urmia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $882 in Shiraz versus $731 in Urmia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,211 in Shiraz versus $1,031 in Urmia.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 28% more expensive than Urmia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 59% lower, Urmia 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 $5.99

$3.68 $3.68

62.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.05 $14.05

$16.96 $16.96

-17.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.42 $4.42

-22.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.22 $1.22

-44.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.58 $1.58

28.48%

Cappuccino

$1.01 $1.01

$1.21 $1.21

-16.53%

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

$1.47 $1.47

$0.90 $0.90

63.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.57 $0.57

105.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.59 $0.59

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.72 $0.72

-30.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.33 $2.33

-31.76%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$1.13 $1.13

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.40 $3.40

-14.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.57 $2.57

45.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 $9.97

$6.43 $6.43

55.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.93 $0.93

-6.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.43 $1.43

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.77 $0.77

31.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.67 $0.67

-16.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.52 $0.52

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.55 $0.55

38.18%

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

$0.65 $0.65

56.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.50 $0.50

28.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.38 $1.38

3.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.18 $1.18

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.17 $0.17

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.39 $2.39

$9.97 $9.97

-76.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.38 $0.38

-23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 $0.17

$0.24 $0.24

-29.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.97 $1.97

-10.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.77 $0.77

-5.19%

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

$74.4K $74.4K

$75.8K $75.8K

-1.86%

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

$80.0K $80.0K

$44.3K $44.3K

80.59%

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

$36.57 $36.57

$15.59 $15.59

134.57%

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

$1.94 $1.94

$2.04 $2.04

-4.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.23 $19.23

$5.89 $5.89

226.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.90 $15.90

$22.31 $22.31

-28.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.82 $15.82

$5.60 $5.60

182.50%

Cinema Ticket

$2.02 $2.02

$1.54 $1.54

31.17%

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

$156 $156

$117 $117

33.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,156 $2,156

$1,938 $1,938

11.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.32 $24.32

$22.41 $22.41

8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.47 $20.47

$24.94 $24.94

-17.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 $73.2

$110 $110

-33.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.72 $41.72

$32.46 $32.46

28.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 $287

$172 $172

66.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 $205

$129 $129

59.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 $471

$319 $319

47.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 $400

$271 $271

47.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,072 $1,072

$690 $690

55.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 $534

$588 $588

-9.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 $203

$192 $192

5.85%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Urmia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $287 in Shiraz and $172 in Urmia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shiraz pays 6% 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 $110 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Shiraz pays 6% 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: $287 in Shiraz versus $172 in Urmia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $156 in Shiraz versus $117 in Urmia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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.