Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Qazvin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Qazvin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Tehran versus $585 in Qazvin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Tehran versus $893 in Qazvin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,565 in Tehran versus $1,202 in Qazvin.

Living in Tehran is roughly 19% more expensive than Qazvin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 48% lower, Qazvin 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 $3.97

$4.07 $4.07

-2.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.24 $18.24

$18.28 $18.28

-0.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.40 $3.40

50.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.66 $0.66

3.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.05 $1.05

-3.81%

Cappuccino

$1.27 $1.27

$1.30 $1.30

-2.31%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.45 $0.45

-4.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.63 $0.63

-6.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.43 $0.43

23.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.85 $1.85

-0.54%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$0.93 $0.93

24.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.51 $2.51

36.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.16 $2.16

49.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.78 $10.78

$10.90 $10.90

-1.10%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.69 $0.69

31.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.47 $1.47

-3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.77 $0.77

6.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.61 $0.61

11.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.54 $0.54

-3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.55 $0.55

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 $0.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.23 $0.23

8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.03 $1.03

-1.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.56 $0.56

5.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.63 $1.63

-4.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.71 $1.71

49.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.19 $0.19

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.93 $9.93

1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.18 $0.18

188.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.27 $0.27

14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.02 $2.02

45.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

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

$81.1K $81.1K

$41.8K $41.8K

93.82%

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

$54.9K $54.9K

$54.3K $54.3K

1.10%

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

$15.63 $15.63

$16.00 $16.00

-2.31%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$2.25 $2.25

0.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.82 $5.82

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.90 $22.90

$12.34 $12.34

85.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.01 $12.01

$10.13 $10.13

18.56%

Cinema Ticket

$1.52 $1.52

$0.99 $0.99

53.54%

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

$126 $126

$29.82 $29.82

321.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,965 $1,965

$746 $746

163.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.96 $30.96

$29.48 $29.48

5.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 $34.64

$27.36 $27.36

26.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$100.0 $100.0

22.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 $71.3

$49.05 $49.05

45.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$401 $401

22.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$281 $281

19.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 $1,022

$601 $601

69.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 $707

$444 $444

59.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,412 $1,412

$898 $898

57.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$839 $839

$608 $608

38.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 $212

$321 $321

-33.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

25.35%

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

Last update for Tehran: April 28, 2026

Last update for Qazvin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Tehran and $401 in Qazvin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qazvin pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $18.00 in Qazvin. Groceries flip the comparison at $110 vs $99.0, with Qazvin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Qazvin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran and Qazvin differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $585 including rent). Qazvin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Qazvin earns 51% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Tehran versus $401 in Qazvin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Qazvin – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $18.00 in Tehran. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Qazvin 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.

Safety-wise, Tehran and Qazvin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Qazvin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.