Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Malayer Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Malayer

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $703 in Tehran versus $533 in Malayer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,150 in Tehran versus $832 in Malayer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Tehran versus $1,130 in Malayer.

Living in Tehran is roughly 32% more expensive than in Malayer, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 47% lower, Malayer 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 $4.03

$3.94 $3.94

2.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 $18.03

$16.81 $16.81

7.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.39 $4.39

11.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.63 $0.63

-1.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.05 $1.05

-2.86%

Cappuccino

$1.33 $1.33

$1.10 $1.10

20.91%

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

$0.42 $0.42

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.00 $1.00

4.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.58 $0.58

1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.51 $0.51

13.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

Eggs

$1.21 $1.21

$1.15 $1.15

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.51 $3.51

-2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.22 $3.22

3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$10.17 $10.17

7.67%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.85 $0.85

8.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.35 $1.35

9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.59 $0.59

6.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.51 $0.51

7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.48 $0.48

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.56 $0.56

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.68 $0.68

-7.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.46 $0.46

30.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.36 $1.36

18.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.23 $2.23

13.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.22 $0.22

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.94 $9.94

2.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.34 $0.34

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.03 $2.03

48.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

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

$79.4K $79.4K

$71.8K $71.8K

10.58%

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

$54.8K $54.8K

$55.8K $55.8K

-1.82%

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

$15.46 $15.46

$15.99 $15.99

-3.31%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.06 $2.06

5.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.62 $5.62

1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.37 $23.37

$15.70 $15.70

48.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.75 $11.75

$12.67 $12.67

-7.26%

Cinema Ticket

$1.48 $1.48

$1.54 $1.54

-3.90%

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

$128 $128

$117 $117

9.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,942 $1,942

$2,002 $2,002

-2.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.68 $30.68

$22.29 $22.29

37.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 $34.64

$24.52 $24.52

41.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$108 $108

11.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.6 $68.6

$69.2 $69.2

-0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 $482

$291 $291

65.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 $342

$198 $198

73.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,021 $1,021

$639 $639

59.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 $720

$318 $318

126.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,255 $1,255

$1,132 $1,132

10.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$723 $723

$585 $585

23.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$225 $225

$219 $219

2.46%

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 Malayer: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Tehran and $291 in Malayer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tehran pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $17.00 in Malayer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $107 per month, with Malayer 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 Malayer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malayer is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Tehran, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Tehran versus $291 in Malayer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $128 in Tehran versus $117 in Malayer. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Malayer 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 Malayer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.