Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Qom Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Qom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $611 in Tehran versus $432 in Qom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,063 in Tehran versus $840 in Qom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,515 in Tehran versus $1,249 in Qom.

Living in Tehran is roughly 41% more expensive than in Qom, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 55% lower, Qom 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 $3.60

$3.04 $3.04

18.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.55 $16.55

$16.33 $16.33

1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.95 $3.95

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.52 $0.52

75.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.48 $1.48

0.68%

Cappuccino

$1.28 $1.28

$0.97 $0.97

31.96%

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

$0.51 $0.51

$0.39 $0.39

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.66 $1.66

4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.52 $0.52

36.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.33 $1.33

160.15%

Eggs

$1.22 $1.22

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$2.90 $2.90

42.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.22 $3.22

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 $9.82

$6.83 $6.83

43.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.75 $0.75

69.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.22 $1.22

45.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.92 $0.92

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.42 $0.42

69.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.43 $0.43

27.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.38 $0.38

34.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.41 $0.41

31.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.26 $0.26

19.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.58 $0.58

6.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.43 $0.43

18.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.51 $1.51

37.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.22 $2.22

9.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

$0.18 $0.18

-38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.59 $5.59

$14.34 $14.34

-61.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.26 $0.26

84.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.25 $0.25

16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.02 $1.02

186.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.10 $0.10

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

$50.2K $50.2K

$50.8K $50.8K

-1.22%

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

$43.8K $43.8K

$43.9K $43.9K

-0.14%

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

$13.30 $13.30

$13.40 $13.40

-0.75%

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

$1.59 $1.59

$1.28 $1.28

24.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.67 $3.67

2.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.19 $24.19

$8.83 $8.83

173.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 $13.47

$9.88 $9.88

36.34%

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 $1.99

$0.97 $0.97

105.15%

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

$108 $108

$109 $109

-0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,589 $2,589

$2,595 $2,595

-0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.19 $26.19

$15.18 $15.18

72.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.13 $38.13

$13.08 $13.08

191.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$98.1 $98.1

12.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 $76.1

$49.66 $49.66

53.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 $419

$243 $243

72.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$161 $161

58.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 $986

$587 $587

67.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 $627

$557 $557

12.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,254 $1,254

$909 $909

37.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

$593 $593

21.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 $216

$217 $217

-0.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

20.33

15.20%

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

Last update for Tehran: September 13, 2026

Last update for Qom: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $419 in Tehran and $243 in Qom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qom pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Tehran vs $16.00 in Qom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $89.0 per month, with Qom 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 Qom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qom wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Tehran. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qom the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Qom. 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: $419 in Tehran versus $243 in Qom. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Qom – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $17.00 in Tehran. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $611 per month in Tehran versus $432 in Qom – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Qom 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 Qom 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 Qom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.