Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Gonbad-e Kavus Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Gonbad-e Kavus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $817 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,111 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

Tehran costs about 35% more than Gonbad-e Kavus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tehran and Gonbad-e Kavus are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Gonbad-e Kavus 61% 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

$16.92 $16.92

6.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.60 $4.60

10.00%

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

$1.06 $1.06

-3.77%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.16 $1.16

12.07%

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

$0.45 $0.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.57 $0.57

3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.55 $0.55

3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.53 $2.53

-26.09%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.09 $1.09

6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.43 $3.43

-0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.29 $2.29

41.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$5.83 $5.83

87.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.78 $0.78

12.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.98 $0.98

-17.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.48 $0.48

39.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.49 $0.49

12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.72 $0.72

-30.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.59 $0.59

-1.69%

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

$0.73 $0.73

-15.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.77 $0.77

-23.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.36 $1.36

18.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.54 $2.54

1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.20 $0.20

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.90 $9.90

0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.27 $0.27

14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.03 $2.03

51.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.74 $0.74

2.70%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$73.6K $73.6K

10.60%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$54.1K $54.1K

3.33%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$16.05 $16.05

-1.93%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.03 $2.03

7.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.88 $5.88

-3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$16.27 $16.27

41.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.73 $12.73

-6.76%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.48 $1.48

4.05%

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

$125 $125

$115 $115

8.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,989 $1,989

0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$22.32 $22.32

38.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$24.74 $24.74

37.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$112 $112

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$71.0 $71.0

-0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$282 $282

73.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$198 $198

69.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$638 $638

59.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$322 $322

120.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,089 $1,089

16.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$602 $602

35.68%

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 Gonbad-e Kavus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $282 in Gonbad-e Kavus. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Gonbad-e Kavus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $94.0 – making Gonbad-e Kavus 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 Gonbad-e Kavus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $787 in Gonbad-e Kavus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gonbad-e Kavus, 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 $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Gonbad-e Kavus. 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 $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gonbad-e Kavus – 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 Gonbad-e Kavus. 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.