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: $529 in Shiraz versus $415 in Zanjan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $803 in Shiraz versus $748 in Zanjan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,077 in Shiraz versus $1,080 in Zanjan.

Living in Shiraz is roughly 27% more expensive than in Zanjan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shiraz 61% lower, Zanjan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 $4.08

$2.92 $2.92

39.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.78 $11.78

$13.20 $13.20

-10.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.99 $2.99

30.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.99 $0.99

-1.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.97 $0.97

58.76%

Cappuccino

$1.06 $1.06

$0.95 $0.95

11.58%

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

$0.70 $0.70

$0.55 $0.55

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 $1.17

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 $0.41

$0.55 $0.55

-25.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.23 $3.23

-39.01%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$1.17 $1.17

1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$4.01 $4.01

-42.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.21 $3.21

-4.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 $9.97

$9.27 $9.27

7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 $1.49

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.86 $0.86

8.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.46 $0.46

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.53 $0.53

1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.47 $0.47

21.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.41 $0.41

24.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.24 $0.24

-8.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.63 $0.63

30.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.52 $0.52

15.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.49 $1.49

12.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.70 $1.70

74.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.21 $0.21

-47.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.05 $3.05

$10.10 $10.10

-69.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 $0.38

$0.29 $0.29

31.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.29 $0.29

-20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$0.99 $0.99

255.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 $0.03

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

$63.7K $63.7K

$60.2K $60.2K

5.85%

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

$52.9K $52.9K

$43.9K $43.9K

20.38%

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

$23.47 $23.47

$13.36 $13.36

75.67%

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

$2.06 $2.06

$1.70 $1.70

21.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.98 $16.98

$3.75 $3.75

352.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.33 $12.33

49.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.88 $13.88

$12.59 $12.59

10.25%

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 $1.95

$1.99 $1.99

-2.01%

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

$102 $102

$111 $111

-8.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,373 $2,373

$2,579 $2,579

-8.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.06 $22.06

$23.54 $23.54

-6.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.19 $18.19

$38.13 $38.13

-52.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$109 $109

-11.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.35 $49.35

$66.8 $66.8

-26.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 $293

$133 $133

120.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 $220

$100 $100

119.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 $543

$386 $386

40.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 $326

$321 $321

1.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,163 $1,163

$800 $800

45.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 $532

$458 $458

16.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 $234

$292 $292

-19.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.04

4.52%

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

Last update for Shiraz: August 18, 2026

Last update for Zanjan: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $293 in Shiraz and $133 in Zanjan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanjan pays 25% 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 $13.00 in Zanjan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $112 per month, with Shiraz cheaper across the board.

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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Zanjan. 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: $293 in Shiraz versus $133 in Zanjan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $102 in Shiraz versus $111 in Zanjan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Shiraz pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 27% less than in Shiraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.