Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Zanjan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Zanjan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $547 in Shiraz versus $425 in Zanjan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $871 in Shiraz versus $753 in Zanjan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,195 in Shiraz versus $1,080 in Zanjan.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 29% more expensive than Zanjan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 $5.82

$3.06 $3.06

90.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.28 $14.28

$15.70 $15.70

-9.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.26 $3.26

9.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.66 $0.66

10.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.02 $1.02

94.12%

Cappuccino

$0.97 $0.97

$0.94 $0.94

3.19%

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

$1.47 $1.47

$0.46 $0.46

219.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.07 $1.07

13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.60 $0.60

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.57 $0.57

-17.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.92 $1.92

-18.23%

Eggs

$1.14 $1.14

$1.20 $1.20

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.36 $3.36

-11.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.18 $3.18

16.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.66 $8.66

14.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.87 $0.87

5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.28 $1.28

39.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.88 $0.88

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.53 $0.53

-1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.50 $0.50

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.63 $0.63

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.22 $0.22

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.62 $0.62

56.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.50 $0.50

24.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.28 $1.28

7.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.95 $1.95

17.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.14 $0.14

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.32 $2.32

$10.18 $10.18

-77.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.27 $0.27

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.01 $1.01

66.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.78 $0.78

-11.54%

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

$75.0K $75.0K

$59.8K $59.8K

25.38%

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

$79.8K $79.8K

$45.7K $45.7K

74.69%

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

$35.82 $35.82

$15.88 $15.88

125.57%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.23 $2.23

-8.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.16 $19.16

$5.63 $5.63

240.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.52 $12.52

27.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.69 $12.69

23.64%

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 $1.97

$1.49 $1.49

32.21%

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

$156 $156

$125 $125

24.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,171 $2,171

$1,999 $1,999

8.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.04 $24.04

$30.85 $30.85

-22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.43 $20.43

$34.73 $34.73

-41.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 $71.7

$121 $121

-40.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.56 $41.56

$69.3 $69.3

-39.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 $284

$259 $259

9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 $208

$101 $101

105.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 $467

$597 $597

-21.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 $403

$304 $304

32.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,067 $1,067

$895 $895

19.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$525 $525

0.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 $247

$366 $366

-32.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

21.5

3.44%

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

Last update for Shiraz: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zanjan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Shiraz and $259 in Zanjan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanjan pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Shiraz vs $16.00 in Zanjan. Groceries flip the comparison at $109 vs $102, with Zanjan 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 Zanjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zanjan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Zanjan earns 48% 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: $284 in Shiraz versus $259 in Zanjan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $156 in Shiraz versus $125 in Zanjan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Shiraz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Zanjan 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 Zanjan 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 Zanjan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.