Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Arak Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Arak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Tehran versus $430 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Tehran versus $669 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,565 in Tehran versus $907 in Arak.

Living in Tehran is roughly 62% more expensive than Arak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 48% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 $3.97

$2.97 $2.97

33.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.24 $18.24

$13.74 $13.74

32.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.56 $2.56

100.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.59 $0.59

15.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.88 $0.88

14.77%

Cappuccino

$1.27 $1.27

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.36 $0.36

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.63 $0.63

-6.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.58 $0.58

-8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.94 $1.94

-5.15%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.02 $1.02

13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.89 $1.89

80.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.93 $1.93

66.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.78 $10.78

$8.59 $8.59

25.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.88 $0.88

3.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.11 $1.11

27.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.58 $0.58

41.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.41 $0.41

65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.39 $0.39

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.37 $0.37

35.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.34 $0.34

85.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.23 $0.23

8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.03 $1.03

-1.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.48 $1.48

5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.80 $1.80

42.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.43 $0.43

-44.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.97 $9.97

0.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.37 $0.37

40.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.09 $0.09

244.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.21 $1.21

142.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.35 $0.35

111.43%

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

$81.1K $81.1K

$43.0K $43.0K

88.75%

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

$54.9K $54.9K

$39.9K $39.9K

37.57%

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

$15.63 $15.63

$10.17 $10.17

53.69%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$2.06 $2.06

10.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.69 $5.69

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.90 $22.90

$13.09 $13.09

74.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.01 $12.01

$16.11 $16.11

-25.45%

Cinema Ticket

$1.52 $1.52

$0.98 $0.98

55.10%

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

$126 $126

$62.1 $62.1

102.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,965 $1,965

$1,967 $1,967

-0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.96 $30.96

$12.86 $12.86

140.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 $34.64

$8.21 $8.21

321.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$44.82 $44.82

173.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 $71.3

$45.50 $45.50

56.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$315 $315

56.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$192 $192

74.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 $1,022

$479 $479

113.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 $707

$305 $305

131.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,412 $1,412

$1,370 $1,370

3.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$839 $839

$532 $532

57.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 $212

$323 $323

-34.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

18.33

36.77%

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

Last update for Tehran: April 28, 2026

Last update for Arak: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Tehran and $315 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 53% 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 $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $86.0 per month, with Arak 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

Tehran vs Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Arak earns 53% 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: $491 in Tehran versus $315 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Tehran versus $430 in Arak – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 1% less than in Tehran. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Arak 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, Tehran and Arak 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 Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.