Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Abadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Abadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Tehran versus $529 in Abadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,123 in Tehran versus $836 in Abadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Tehran versus $1,143 in Abadan.

Living in Tehran is roughly 31% more expensive than in Abadan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 48% lower, Abadan 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 $4.05

$4.02 $4.02

0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 $18.29

$17.04 $17.04

7.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 $5.10

$4.43 $4.43

15.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.05 $1.05

-3.81%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.16 $1.16

12.07%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.46 $0.46

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.98 $0.98

10.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 $0.58

$1.04 $1.04

-44.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.57 $0.57

-5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.86 $1.86

-0.54%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$1.13 $1.13

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.41 $3.41

-1.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.18 $3.18

5.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.19 $10.19

5.59%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.89 $0.89

4.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.35 $1.35

4.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.88 $0.88

-6.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.54 $0.54

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.48 $0.48

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.45 $0.45

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.23 $0.23

8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.52 $0.52

11.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.50 $0.50

18.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.37 $1.37

16.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.16 $2.16

13.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.21 $0.21

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 $9.90

$10.02 $10.02

-1.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.34 $0.34

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.27 $0.27

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.97 $1.97

56.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.79 $0.79

-1.27%

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

$79.7K $79.7K

$71.1K $71.1K

12.06%

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

$53.9K $53.9K

$54.3K $54.3K

-0.76%

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

$15.97 $15.97

$15.98 $15.98

-0.06%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.09 $2.09

3.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.88 $5.88

-4.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.81 $22.81

$16.05 $16.05

42.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 $11.73

$12.40 $12.40

-5.40%

Cinema Ticket

$1.53 $1.53

$1.52 $1.52

0.66%

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

$127 $127

$114 $114

11.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,949 $1,949

$1,986 $1,986

-1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.39 $31.39

$22.89 $22.89

37.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 $34.37

$24.70 $24.70

39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 $124

$112 $112

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 $69.9

$68.9 $68.9

1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$282 $282

74.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 $347

$202 $202

71.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 $1,012

$634 $634

59.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 $719

$324 $324

122.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 $1,244

$703 $703

76.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 $734

$1,053 $1,053

-30.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 $217

$442 $442

-50.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

22.24

12.72%

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

Last update for Tehran: July 12, 2026

Last update for Abadan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Tehran and $282 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abadan pays 104% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $17.00 in Abadan. Groceries flip the comparison at $110 vs $111, with Tehran cheaper for home cooking.

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

Tehran vs Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 104% lower in Abadan. 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: $491 in Tehran versus $282 in Abadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $18.00 in Tehran. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $692 per month in Tehran versus $529 in Abadan – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Abadan 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.

Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.