Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Isfahan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Isfahan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $478 in Isfahan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $833 in Isfahan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,188 in Isfahan, rent included.

Tehran costs about 48% more than Isfahan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Isfahan are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Isfahan 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$3.02 $3.02

28.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$10.65 $10.65

69.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.03 $3.03

67.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.03 $1.03

-39.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.06 $2.06

-50.49%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$0.82 $0.82

58.54%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.48 $0.48

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.94 $0.94

9.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.55 $0.55

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.42 $0.42

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.28 $2.28

-17.98%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.50 $1.50

-22.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.81 $2.81

21.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.11 $3.11

4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.98 $9.98

9.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.63 $0.63

39.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.05 $1.05

-22.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.56 $0.56

19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.61 $0.61

-9.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.48 $0.48

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.21 $0.21

9.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.52 $0.52

19.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.51 $0.51

15.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.77 $0.77

109.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.08 $2.08

23.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.29 $0.29

-17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$13.06 $13.06

-23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.97 $1.97

55.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.84 $0.84

-9.52%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$67.9K $67.9K

19.95%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$59.8K $59.8K

-6.51%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$14.84 $14.84

6.06%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$1.87 $1.87

16.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$7.62 $7.62

-25.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$13.36 $13.36

72.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$10.70 $10.70

10.93%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$1.09 $1.09

41.28%

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

$125 $125

$71.9 $71.9

73.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$579 $579

245.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$18.06 $18.06

70.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$24.12 $24.12

41.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$85.8 $85.8

41.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$36.61 $36.61

92.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$291 $291

68.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$193 $193

74.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$899 $899

13.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$532 $532

33.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,200 $1,200

5.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$717 $717

13.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$207 $207

1.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

26.86

-6.66%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Isfahan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $291 in Isfahan. 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 2% 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 $11.00 in Isfahan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $105 – making Isfahan 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 Isfahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran costs about 48% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Tehran and $717 in Isfahan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran and $11.00 in Isfahan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $710 in Tehran and $478 in Isfahan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Tehran and $478 in Isfahan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Isfahan – 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 Isfahan. 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.