Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Bandar Abbas Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Bandar Abbas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $578 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $895 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,212 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

Tehran costs about 23% more than Bandar Abbas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Bandar Abbas are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Bandar Abbas 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$3.95 $3.95

-1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$17.05 $17.05

5.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.63 $4.63

9.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.64 $0.64

-3.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.06 $1.06

-3.77%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.15 $1.15

13.04%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.46 $0.46

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.99 $0.99

4.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.62 $0.62

-4.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.52 $0.52

9.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.85 $1.85

1.08%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.15 $1.15

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.37 $3.37

1.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.29 $3.29

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.86 $9.86

10.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.85 $0.85

3.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.35 $1.35

5.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.88 $0.88

-7.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.53 $0.53

26.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.48 $0.48

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.55 $0.55

5.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.57 $0.57

8.77%

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)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.37 $1.37

17.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.16 $2.16

18.98%

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

$9.89 $9.89

0.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.33 $0.33

57.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.98 $1.98

55.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.73 $0.73

4.11%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$73.2K $73.2K

11.21%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$55.7K $55.7K

0.30%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$16.00 $16.00

-1.62%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.05 $2.05

6.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.79 $5.79

-2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.70 $15.70

46.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.40 $12.40

-4.27%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.52 $1.52

1.32%

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

$125 $125

$114 $114

9.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,976 $1,976

1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$22.78 $22.78

35.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$24.82 $24.82

37.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$112 $112

8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$70.7 $70.7

-0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$343 $343

42.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$255 $255

31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$813 $813

25.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$405 $405

75.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,061 $1,061

19.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$603 $603

35.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$181 $181

16.92%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bandar Abbas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $343 in Bandar Abbas. 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 17% higher in Tehran, 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 $18.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Bandar Abbas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $106 – making Bandar Abbas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bandar Abbas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $867 in Bandar Abbas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $710 in Tehran and $578 in Bandar Abbas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Bandar Abbas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Tehran and $578 in Bandar Abbas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bandar Abbas. 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.