Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Iran Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Iran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,686 per month in Spain vs $509 in Iran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,489 per month in Spain vs $815 in Iran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,291 per month in Spain vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.

The cost of living in Spain is about 231% higher than in Iran on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Spain sits 23% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Spain ($959$2,683) than in Iran ($349$781), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13 €14.91
$3.18 $3.18
438.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 €49.80
$16.19 $16.19
253.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.60 €10.10
$4.03 $4.03
187.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.89 $0.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 $1.20
-
Cappuccino
$2.40 €2.09
$1.20 $1.20
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.37
$0.54 $0.54
405.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.65
$0.93 $0.93
103.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 €3.11
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.45
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Iran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 €1.09
$0.65 $0.65
93.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 €1.34
$0.47 $0.47
227.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 €1.42
$2.41 $2.41
-32.37%
Eggs
$3.44 €3.00
$1.15 $1.15
199.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 €12.55
$3.74 $3.74
285.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.89 €7.74
$2.97 $2.97
199.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.49 €14.35
$9.79 $9.79
68.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 €2.17
$0.96 $0.96
159.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.85
$1.48 $1.48
43.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 €1.94
$0.84 $0.84
164.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.21
$0.59 $0.59
330.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 €1.57
$0.47 $0.47
285.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.74
$0.46 $0.46
334.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.17
$0.54 $0.54
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.66
$0.25 $0.25
204.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.03 $1.03
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53 $0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 $1.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91 €6.01
$2.19 $2.19
215.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.98
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.15
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.49
$0.17 $0.17
905.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.14 €30.58
$9.85 $9.85
256.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.66 €4.05
$0.51 $0.51
813.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 €1.34
$0.29 $0.29
431.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.59 €22.27
$2.39 $2.39
970.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.28 $0.28
528.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K €31.5K
$60.3K $60.3K
-39.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €26.3K
$55.4K $55.4K
-45.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 €134
$14.23 $14.23
986.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.12 €15.77
$2.25 $2.25
705.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.66 €28.42
$6.54 $6.54
399.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.15 €40.16
$16.23 $16.23
184.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 €13.62
$11.83 $11.83
32.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.01 €8.71
$1.52 $1.52
558.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 €488
$82.0 $82.0
583.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,339
$1,161 $1,161
824.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Iran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 €75.8
$22.66 $22.66
284.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.45 €33.46
$26.35 $26.35
45.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 €80.0
$100 $100
-8.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €94.2
$62.7 $62.7
72.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 €907
$257 $257
304.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$814 €708
$182 $182
345.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 €1,416
$564 $564
188.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,085
$350 $350
256.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,712
$984 $984
333.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,607 €2,269
$590 $590
341.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,046 €1,781
$242 $242
743.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.29
22.98
-85.68%

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

Last update for Spain: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iran: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $932 in Spain vs $287 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,567 in Madrid and $419 in Tehran.

Average salary: $2,029 in Spain vs $265 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 225% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 269% more in Spain.

Public transport is 288% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 666% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.

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 222% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Spain consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Spain?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iran, contributing to the overall 222% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Iran and Spain on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iran, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Spain?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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