đMonthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in SÄŤrjÄn versus $710 in Tehran.
đEstimated couple costs with rent: $825 in SÄŤrjÄn versus $1,139 in Tehran.
đMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,127 in SÄŤrjÄn versus $1,569 in Tehran.
đLiving in SÄŤrjÄn costs roughly 26% less than in Tehran, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
đBoth cities sit below the global median: SÄŤrjÄn61% lower, Tehran47% lower.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96$3.96
$3.89$3.89
1.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.15$17.15
$18.06$18.06
-5.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.52$4.52
$5.06$5.06
-10.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.64$0.64
$0.62$0.62
3.23%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05$1.05
$1.02$1.02
2.94%
Cappuccino
$1.15$1.15
$1.30$1.30
-11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46$0.46
$0.45$0.45
2.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92$0.92
$1.03$1.03
-10.68%
đ Groceries & Markets
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59$0.59
$0.59$0.59
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.53$0.53
$0.57$0.57
-7.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92$1.92
$1.87$1.87
2.67%
Eggs
$1.19$1.19
$1.16$1.16
2.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$3.42$3.42
0.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$3.24$3.24
-0.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.09$10.09
$10.93$10.93
-7.69%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86$0.86
$0.88$0.88
-2.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41$1.41
$1.42$1.42
-0.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.84$0.84
$0.81$0.81
3.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58$0.58
$0.67$0.67
-13.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52$0.52
$0.55$0.55
-5.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45$0.45
$0.50$0.50
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60$0.60
$0.58$0.58
3.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25$0.25
$0.23$0.23
8.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.53$0.53
$0.62$0.62
-14.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.46$0.46
$0.59$0.59
-22.03%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37$1.37
$1.61$1.61
-14.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22$2.22
$2.57$2.57
-13.62%
đ Getting Around
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21$0.21
$0.24$0.24
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.16$10.16
$9.95$9.95
2.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37$0.37
$0.52$0.52
-28.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27$0.27
$0.31$0.31
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02$2.02
$3.07$3.07
-34.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.76$0.76
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.4K$71.4K
$81.4K$81.4K
-12.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.7K$55.7K
$55.9K$55.9K
-0.27%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.64$15.64
$15.74$15.74
-0.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.11$2.11
$2.18$2.18
-3.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.69$5.69
$5.66$5.66
0.53%
đ Sport & Entertainment
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.25$16.25
$23.05$23.05
-29.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.60$12.60
$11.87$11.87
6.15%
Cinema Ticket
$1.54$1.54
$1.54$1.54
-
𧸠Childcare & Education
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114$114
$125$125
-8.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,958$1,958
$2,001$2,001
-2.16%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.09$22.09
$30.87$30.87
-28.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.06$25.06
$34.04$34.04
-26.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109$109
$122$122
-10.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9$68.9
$70.4$70.4
-2.17%
đ Accommodation & Living
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290$290
$489$489
-40.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200$200
$336$336
-40.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$629$629
$1,020$1,020
-38.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$325$325
$709$709
-54.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,135$1,135
$1,265$1,265
-10.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$626$626
$817$817
-23.33%
đľ Salaries & Financials
SÄŤrjÄn
Tehran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$211$211
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.24
25.07
-11.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for SÄŤrjÄn: June 2, 2026
Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in SÄŤrjÄn and $489 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
đDining out: $17.00 in SÄŤrjÄn vs $18.00 in Tehran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $107 vs $110 per month, with SÄŤrjÄn 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
SÄŤrjÄn vs Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran?
SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($522 vs $710 including rent). SÄŤrjÄn is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in SÄŤrjÄn compared to Tehran?
You'd need roughly $783 in SÄŤrjÄn and $1,065 in Tehran to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran?
Rent for a central apartment: $290 in SÄŤrjÄn versus $489 in Tehran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran?
Childcare runs $114 in SÄŤrjÄn versus $125 in Tehran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $1,200 go in SÄŤrjÄn vs Tehran?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though SÄŤrjÄn gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is SÄŤrjÄn or Tehran safer for residents?
Safety-wise, SÄŤrjÄn and Tehran are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: SÄŤrjÄn or Tehran?
Expats usually find SÄŤrjÄn gentler on the wallet â expenses run 36% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.