For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $495 a month against $1,796 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Iran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,796 per month in Spain vs $495 in Iran, rent included.
Spain $1,796
Iran $495
A couple spends around $2,612 per month in Spain vs $804 in Iran, rent included.
Spain $2,612
Iran $804
A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Spain vs $1,114 in Iran, rent included.
Spain $3,429
Iran $1,114
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Spain ($932–$2,592) than in Iran ($355–$872), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Spain is about 263% higher than in Iran on average.
📊
Spain sits 33% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.93€15.10
$3.30$3.30
413.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.3€50.2
$16.06$16.06
250.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32€10.10
$4.12$4.12
174.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.84$0.84
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.14$1.14
-
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.16
$1.17$1.17
106.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.27
$0.54$0.54
372.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$0.92$0.92
94.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.34€2.98
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.59
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Iran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.03
$0.62$0.62
85.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.31
$0.50$0.50
194.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68€1.50
$2.36$2.36
-28.81%
Eggs
$3.43€3.06
$1.12$1.12
206.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.11€12.59
$3.64$3.64
287.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.64€7.71
$3.01$3.01
187.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.44€14.67
$9.80$9.80
67.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.25
$0.97$0.97
160.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.82
$1.49$1.49
37.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$0.88$0.88
130.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.20
$0.58$0.58
324.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87€1.67
$0.48$0.48
289.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95€1.74
$0.49$0.49
297.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37€1.22
$0.49$0.49
179.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.66
$0.25$0.25
196.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.02$1.02
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53$0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.39$1.39
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.90
$2.14$2.14
208.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.52€4.93
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.14
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.46
$0.16$0.16
925.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.79€29.25
$10.09$10.09
224.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.91€3.49
$0.48$0.48
714.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32€1.17
$0.29$0.29
355.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.47€23.61
$2.44$2.44
984.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.56
$0.30$0.30
483.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€31.1K
$58.9K$58.9K
-40.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.3K
$52.9K$52.9K
-42.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€130
$13.82$13.82
955.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77€15.85
$2.24$2.24
693.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.25€28.77
$6.49$6.49
396.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.93€40.08
$16.50$16.50
172.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.01€13.39
$12.32$12.32
21.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.36€8.35
$1.46$1.46
541.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564€503
$80.2$80.2
603.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.8K
$1,168$1,168
1035.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Iran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3€75.2
$22.51$22.51
274.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.06€33.06
$26.70$26.70
38.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.2€81.3
$103$103
-11.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€96.1
$60.8$60.8
77.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025€914
$251$251
308.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$829€740
$177$177
367.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641€1,464
$560$560
193.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,231€1,098
$337$337
264.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,131€3,684
$993$993
316.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,739€2,443
$604$604
353.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,012€1,795
$244$244
723.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
23.49
-85.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: November 2, 2026
Last update for Iran: October 31, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$829 46.2%
Iran
$177 35.9% ↓ 78.6%$652
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.2%
Iran
$108 21.8% ↓ 60.3%$164
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$241 13.4%
Iran
$59 11.9% ↓ 75.6%$182
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$196 10.9%
Iran
$23 4.6% ↓ 88.5%$173
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$144 8%
Iran
$96 19.4% ↓ 33.4%$48
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.5%
Iran
$19 3.9% ↓ 69.5%$44
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$50 2.8%
Iran
$13 2.6% ↓ 74.6%$37
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 35.9%
Iran
$337 30.3% ↓ 72.6%$894
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$649 18.9%
Iran
$264 23.7% ↓ 59.3%$384
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$770 22.5%
Iran
$197 17.7% ↓ 74.4%$573
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$214 6.2%
Iran
$25 2.2% ↓ 88.4%$189
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$320 9.3%
Iran
$213 19.2% ↓ 33.4%$107
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.2%
Iran
$51 4.6% ↓ 64.1%$91
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$103 3%
Iran
$26 2.3% ↓ 75.2%$77
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $937 in Spain vs $294 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,525 in Madrid and $419 in Tehran.
💰Average salary: $1,975 in Spain vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 219% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 256% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 210% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are about 7.4 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Spain vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Spain?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 72% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain: a central one-bedroom averages $937 versus $294 in Iran.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Spain?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 72% cheaper overall.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Spain?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.