Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Mahabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Mahabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $703 per month in Tehran vs $516 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Tehran vs $803 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,596 per month in Tehran vs $1,089 in Mahabad, rent included.

Tehran costs about 36% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tehran and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 $4.03

$3.06 $3.06

31.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 $18.03

$17.04 $17.04

5.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.10 $2.10

133.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.75 $0.75

-17.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.04 $1.04

-1.92%

Cappuccino

$1.33 $1.33

$2.35 $2.35

-43.40%

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

$0.42 $0.42

$0.98 $0.98

-57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.94 $0.94

10.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.43 $0.43

34.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.21 $2.21

-12.22%

Eggs

$1.21 $1.21

$1.22 $1.22

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.14 $3.14

8.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.28 $3.28

1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$7.37 $7.37

48.58%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.72 $0.72

27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.22 $1.22

21.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.82 $0.82

6.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.47 $0.47

34.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.47 $0.47

14.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.48 $0.48

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.31 $0.31

-19.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.58 $0.58

8.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.51 $0.51

17.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.39 $1.39

15.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.18 $2.18

16.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.20 $0.20

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.90 $9.90

2.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.37 $0.37

29.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.27 $0.27

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.02 $2.02

49.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.72 $0.72

5.56%

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

$79.4K $79.4K

$73.3K $73.3K

8.31%

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

$54.8K $54.8K

$54.1K $54.1K

1.28%

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

$15.46 $15.46

$16.03 $16.03

-3.56%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.02 $2.02

7.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.69 $5.69

0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.37 $23.37

$14.28 $14.28

63.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.75 $11.75

$12.52 $12.52

-6.15%

Cinema Ticket

$1.48 $1.48

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

$128 $128

$115 $115

10.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,934 $1,934

0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.68 $30.68

$22.23 $22.23

38.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 $34.64

$24.66 $24.66

40.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$110 $110

9.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.6 $68.6

$69.6 $69.6

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 $482

$289 $289

66.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 $342

$202 $202

69.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,021 $1,021

$628 $628

62.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 $720

$319 $319

125.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,255 $1,255

$861 $861

45.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$723 $723

$553 $553

30.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$225 $225

$272 $272

-17.31%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Tehran versus $289 in Mahabad. 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 21% higher in Mahabad, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $112 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 36%, 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 $1,055 per month in Tehran and $774 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $128 per month in Tehran and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Tehran, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $703 in Tehran and $516 in Mahabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – 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 Mahabad. 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.