Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $611 per month in Tehran vs $470 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,063 per month in Tehran vs $767 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,515 per month in Tehran vs $1,065 in Mashhad, rent included.

Tehran costs about 30% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tehran and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 55% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 $3.60

$3.01 $3.01

19.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.55 $16.55

$18.34 $18.34

-9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.97 $4.97

-20.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.60 $0.60

51.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.98 $0.98

52.04%

Cappuccino

$1.28 $1.28

$1.13 $1.13

13.27%

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

$0.51 $0.51

$0.43 $0.43

18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.28 $0.28

517.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.61 $0.61

16.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.17 $0.17

211.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.93 $1.93

79.27%

Eggs

$1.22 $1.22

$1.15 $1.15

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$2.17 $2.17

90.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.73 $2.73

17.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 $9.82

$10.12 $10.12

-2.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.94 $0.94

35.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.55 $1.55

14.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.81 $0.81

41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.58 $0.58

22.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.53 $0.53

3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.44 $0.44

15.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.48 $0.48

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.92 $0.92

-32.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.74 $0.74

-31.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.93 $0.93

122.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.05 $3.05

-20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.02 $0.02

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.59 $5.59

$3.60 $3.60

55.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.17 $0.17

182.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.48 $0.48

-39.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.01 $2.01

45.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.10 $0.10

$0.82 $0.82

-87.80%

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

$50.2K $50.2K

$59.1K $59.1K

-15.03%

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

$43.8K $43.8K

$66.3K $66.3K

-33.87%

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

$13.30 $13.30

$13.67 $13.67

-2.71%

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

$1.59 $1.59

$2.64 $2.64

-39.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.76 $3.76

$27.60 $27.60

-86.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.19 $24.19

$19.52 $19.52

23.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 $13.47

$14.83 $14.83

-9.17%

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 $1.99

$2.03 $2.03

-1.97%

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

$108 $108

$39.89 $39.89

171.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,589 $2,589

$612 $612

322.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.19 $26.19

$19.96 $19.96

31.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.13 $38.13

$38.25 $38.25

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$92.1 $92.1

19.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 $76.1

$68.3 $68.3

11.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 $419

$211 $211

98.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$150 $150

69.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 $986

$394 $394

150.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 $627

$267 $267

135.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,254 $1,254

$1,132 $1,132

10.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

$692 $692

4.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 $216

$253 $253

-14.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

21.6

8.43%

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

Last update for Tehran: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $419 in Tehran versus $211 in Mashhad. 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 17% higher in Mashhad, 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 $17.00 in Tehran versus $18.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $123 in Tehran vs $99.0 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran costs about 30% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $917 per month in Tehran and $705 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, 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 $611 in Tehran and $470 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $611 in Tehran and $470 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – 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 Mashhad. 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.