Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabriz and Karaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabriz and Karaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $655 in Tabriz versus $529 in Karaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,065 in Tabriz versus $976 in Karaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Tabriz versus $1,423 in Karaj.

Living in Tabriz is roughly 24% more expensive than Karaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tabriz 51% lower, Karaj 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 $4.75

$4.06 $4.06

17.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.90 $19.90

$18.13 $18.13

9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.06 $3.06

$5.05 $5.05

-39.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.63 $0.63

17.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.05 $1.05

26.67%

Cappuccino

$1.16 $1.16

$1.32 $1.32

-12.12%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$0.46 $0.46

110.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.07 $1.07

-13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.63 $0.63

169.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.58 $0.58

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.66 $12.66

$1.92 $1.92

559.38%

Eggs

$1.26 $1.26

$1.00 $1.00

26.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.48 $27.48

$3.53 $3.53

678.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.24 $3.24

-13.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 $9.60

$10.75 $10.75

-10.70%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.82 $0.82

15.85%

Banana (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.43 $1.43

183.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.82 $0.82

45.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.50 $0.50

16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.42 $0.42

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.63 $0.63

-17.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.20 $0.20

255.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.98 $0.98

-36.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.46 $0.46

102.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.32 $1.32

5.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.52 $2.52

-3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.23 $0.23

113.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.82 $19.82

$13.01 $13.01

52.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.31 $0.31

190.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.31 $0.31

-35.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.63 $2.63

56.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

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

$73.3K $73.3K

$79.8K $79.8K

-8.13%

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

$56.7K $56.7K

$54.2K $54.2K

4.66%

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

$14.31 $14.31

$14.13 $14.13

1.27%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$2.22 $2.22

-7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.46 $18.46

$5.89 $5.89

213.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.36 $14.36

$22.36 $22.36

-35.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.37 $25.37

$9.87 $9.87

157.04%

Cinema Ticket

$1.80 $1.80

$1.53 $1.53

17.65%

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

$68.1 $68.1

$127 $127

-46.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$665 $665

$829 $829

-19.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.78 $16.78

$25.12 $25.12

-33.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.83 $12.83

$33.80 $33.80

-62.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$174 $174

$95.8 $95.8

81.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.21 $49.21

$59.2 $59.2

-16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 $189

$367 $367

-48.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 $135

$197 $197

-31.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 $866

$893 $893

-2.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$618 $618

-58.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$868 $868

$1,273 $1,273

-31.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$841 $841

$530 $530

58.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 $236

$242 $242

-2.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.67

-2.96%

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

Last update for Tabriz: April 26, 2026

Last update for Karaj: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Tabriz and $367 in Karaj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karaj pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Tabriz vs $18.00 in Karaj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $108 per month, with Karaj 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

Tabriz vs Karaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tabriz and Karaj differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($655 vs $529 including rent). Karaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karaj earns 2% 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: $189 in Tabriz versus $367 in Karaj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 134% higher in Tabriz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Karaj – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $20.00 in Tabriz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karaj 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, Tabriz and Karaj 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 Karaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Tabriz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.