Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Behbahan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Behbahan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Tehran versus $517 in Behbahan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Tehran versus $788 in Behbahan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Tehran versus $1,059 in Behbahan.

Living in Tehran is roughly 37% more expensive than Behbahan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 47% lower, Behbahan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$6.16 $6.16

-36.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$14.19 $14.19

27.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.60 $3.60

40.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.67 $0.67

-7.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.99 $1.99

-48.74%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$0.98 $0.98

32.65%

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

$1.21 $1.21

-14.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.64 $0.64

-7.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.48 $0.48

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.54 $1.54

21.43%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.13 $1.13

2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.18 $2.18

56.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.18 $2.18

48.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$10.05 $10.05

8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.93 $0.93

-5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.76 $1.76

-19.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.93 $0.93

-12.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.51 $0.51

31.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.48 $0.48

14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.46 $0.46

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.74 $0.74

-21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.26 $0.26

-11.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.02 $1.02

-39.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.64 $0.64

-7.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.44 $1.44

11.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.37 $2.37

8.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.18 $0.18

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.12 $10.12

-1.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.29 $0.29

79.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.27 $0.27

14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.67 $1.67

83.83%

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

$74.9K $74.9K

8.74%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$80.9K $80.9K

-30.92%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$36.74 $36.74

-57.16%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.04 $2.04

6.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.60 $5.60

1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.94 $15.94

44.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.62 $12.62

-5.94%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.99 $1.99

-22.61%

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

$125 $125

$150 $150

-16.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$2,000 $2,000

0.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$24.14 $24.14

27.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$20.40 $20.40

66.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$73.3 $73.3

65.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$41.18 $41.18

70.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$283 $283

72.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$201 $201

66.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$633 $633

61.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$314 $314

125.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,123 $1,123

12.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$592 $592

37.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

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 Behbahan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Tehran and $283 in Behbahan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $14.00 in Behbahan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $99.0 per month, with Behbahan 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 Behbahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Behbahan is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,065 in Tehran and $776 in Behbahan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Tehran versus $283 in Behbahan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $710 per month in Tehran versus $517 in Behbahan – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Behbahan runs roughly 2% 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 Behbahan 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 Behbahan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.