Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabriz and Mahabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Tabriz: $411 a month against $528 in Mahabad, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

20

Cost of Living Index in Tabriz
Learn more

Tabriz Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Mahabad
Learn more

Mahabad Living Index

Jump to prices

Tabriz

🇮🇷 Iran

$411

/mo nomad

Mahabad

🇮🇷 Iran

$528

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tabriz and in Mahabad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tabriz and in Mahabad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $411 per month in Tabriz vs $528 in Mahabad, rent included.

Tabriz $411
Mahabad $528

A couple spends around $684 per month in Tabriz vs $831 in Mahabad, rent included.

Tabriz $684
Mahabad $831

A family of three spends $958 per month in Tabriz vs $1,135 in Mahabad, rent included.

Tabriz $958
Mahabad $1,135

Tabriz is about 22% cheaper than Mahabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Tabriz and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Tabriz 70% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 $2.95

$2.92 $2.92

1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.06 $15.06

$16.31 $16.31

-7.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.99 $3.99

-0.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.73 $0.73

42.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.08 $1.08

3.70%

Cappuccino

$1.37 $1.37

$1.13 $1.13

21.24%

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

$0.55 $0.55

$0.51 $0.51

7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.99 $0.99

-41.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.68 $0.68

-13.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 $0.35

$0.51 $0.51

-31.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.09 $2.09

80.86%

Eggs

$0.90 $0.90

$1.24 $1.24

-27.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.47 $4.47

6.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.34 $3.34

-15.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 $9.76

$7.85 $7.85

24.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.03 $1.03

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.59 $1.59

-16.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.86 $0.86

2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.57 $0.57

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 $0.57

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.47 $0.47

17.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.54 $0.54

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 $0.19

$0.24 $0.24

-20.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.77 $0.77

-25.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.50 $0.50

-12.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.34 $1.34

11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.46 $2.46

-13.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.14 $0.14

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.40 $12.40

$9.67 $9.67

28.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 $0.39

$0.44 $0.44

-11.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.31 $0.31

-35.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.63 $2.63

53.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.10 $0.10

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

$72.4K $72.4K

$50.0K $50.0K

44.78%

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

$54.3K $54.3K

$45.4K $45.4K

19.59%

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

$14.59 $14.59

$12.98 $12.98

12.40%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$1.57 $1.57

28.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.46 $5.46

$3.81 $3.81

43.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.40 $14.40

$18.40 $18.40

-21.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.75 $24.75

$13.52 $13.52

83.06%

Cinema Ticket

$1.51 $1.51

$2.04 $2.04

-25.98%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$107 $107

-45.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$540 $540

$2,442 $2,442

-77.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.27 $15.27

$22.95 $22.95

-33.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.67 $10.67

$27.82 $27.82

-61.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 $73.8

$98.5 $98.5

-25.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.30 $49.30

$73.7 $73.7

-33.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 $153

$290 $290

-47.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 $122

$212 $212

-42.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 $364

$806 $806

-54.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 $239

$356 $356

-32.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 $888

$1,134 $1,134

-21.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$850 $850

$541 $541

56.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 $235

$254 $254

-7.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

24.3

-7.41%

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

Last update for Tabriz: November 1, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Tabriz

$122 29.7%

Mahabad

$212 40.2% 73.6% $90

Groceries & Markets

Tabriz

$112 27.2%

Mahabad

$108 20.4% 3.6% $4

Clothing & Footwear

Tabriz

$67 16.3%

Mahabad

$100 19% 49.6% $33

Eating Out

Tabriz

$56 13.7%

Mahabad

$55 10.4% 2.6% $1.5

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tabriz

$22 5.4%

Mahabad

$18 3.5% 16.7% $3.7

Sport & Entertainment

Tabriz

$17 4.2%

Mahabad

$22 4.3% 29% $5.1

Getting Around

Tabriz

$14 3.5%

Mahabad

$12 2.3% 14.3% $2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Tabriz versus $290 in Mahabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Mahabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Tabriz versus $16 in Mahabad. Groceries tell a different story – $112 in Tabriz vs $108 in Mahabad – so Mahabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇮🇷 Tabriz

🇮🇷 Mahabad

🕒 Local time

02:37 2:37 AM

Same time as Tabriz

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,558,693

208,541

💱 Currency

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.891 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Tabriz Mahabad 150 km

From you

Tabriz
Mahabad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mahabad is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $616 per month in Tabriz and $792 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tabriz, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $153 there versus $290 in Mahabad.

Kindergarten costs $58 per month in Tabriz and $107 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Mahabad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $411 in Tabriz and $528 in Mahabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Tabriz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Tabriz. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mahabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.