Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Bushehr Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Bushehr

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Tehran versus $506 in Bushehr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Tehran versus $778 in Bushehr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Tehran versus $1,050 in Bushehr.

Living in Tehran is roughly 40% more expensive than Bushehr, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 47% lower, Bushehr 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$5.88 $5.88

-33.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$14.02 $14.02

28.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.52 $3.52

43.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.72 $0.72

-13.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.02 $2.02

-49.50%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.02 $1.02

27.45%

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

$1.20 $1.20

-14.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.51 $0.51

15.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.29 $0.29

96.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.58 $1.58

18.35%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.02 $1.02

13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.52 $1.52

125.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.95 $2.95

9.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.85 $9.85

10.96%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.63 $0.63

39.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.48 $1.48

-4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.01 $1.01

-19.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.49 $0.49

36.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.48 $0.48

14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.29 $0.29

72.41%

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

$0.63 $0.63

-1.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.29 $0.29

103.45%

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

$2.33 $2.33

10.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.19 $0.19

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.86 $9.86

0.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.31 $0.31

67.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.27 $0.27

14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.69 $1.69

81.66%

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

$60.7K $60.7K

34.05%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$48.2K $48.2K

15.91%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$19.88 $19.88

-20.82%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.06 $2.06

5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.79 $5.79

-2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.73 $15.73

46.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.33 $12.33

-3.73%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.99 $1.99

-22.61%

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

$125 $125

$50.6 $50.6

146.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$588 $588

240.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$23.97 $23.97

28.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$20.62 $20.62

65.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$73.5 $73.5

65.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$41.45 $41.45

69.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$286 $286

71.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$199 $199

68.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$331 $331

207.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$326 $326

117.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,134 $1,134

11.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$619 $619

31.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$285 $285

-25.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

20.95

19.67%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bushehr: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Tehran and $286 in Bushehr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bushehr pays 35% 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 Bushehr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $94.0 per month, with Bushehr 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 Bushehr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bushehr wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Tehran. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bushehr the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bushehr earns 35% 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: $489 in Tehran versus $286 in Bushehr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

Childcare runs $125 in Tehran versus $50.6 in Bushehr. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bushehr 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 Bushehr 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 Bushehr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.