Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Ahvaz Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Ahvaz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $564 in Ahvaz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $857 in Ahvaz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,149 in Ahvaz, rent included.

Tehran costs about 26% more than Ahvaz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tehran and Ahvaz are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Ahvaz 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$2.05 $2.05

89.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$17.32 $17.32

4.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.71 $3.71

36.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.89 $0.89

-30.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.00 $1.00

2.00%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.20 $1.20

8.33%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.42 $0.42

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.19 $1.19

-13.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.88 $0.88

-32.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.59 $0.59

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.76 $2.76

-32.25%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.29 $1.29

-10.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.02 $4.02

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.65 $3.65

-11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.36 $9.36

16.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.79 $0.79

11.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.78 $0.78

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.56 $0.56

19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.59 $0.59

-6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.52 $0.52

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.46 $0.46

26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.31 $0.31

-25.81%

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)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.49 $0.49

20.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.14 $1.14

41.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.18 $2.18

17.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.22 $0.22

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.90 $9.90

0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.49 $0.49

-36.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.96 $2.96

3.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$118.7K $118.7K

-31.41%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$62.8K $62.8K

-11.01%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$14.09 $14.09

11.71%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.12 $2.12

2.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$7.02 $7.02

-19.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$18.42 $18.42

25.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$5.94 $5.94

99.83%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.19 $1.19

29.41%

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

$125 $125

$108 $108

15.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$626 $626

219.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$20.05 $20.05

53.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$24.60 $24.60

38.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$98.4 $98.4

23.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$104 $104

-32.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$318 $318

53.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$227 $227

48.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$509 $509

100.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$355 $355

99.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,256 $1,256

0.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$742 $742

10.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$531 $531

-60.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

23.67

5.91%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ahvaz: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $318 in Ahvaz. 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 151% higher in Ahvaz, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Ahvaz. Groceries tell a different story – $110 in Tehran vs $116 in Ahvaz – so Tehran wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ahvaz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Tehran and $847 in Ahvaz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ahvaz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran and $17.00 in Ahvaz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $710 in Tehran and $564 in Ahvaz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Tehran and $564 in Ahvaz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

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