Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Rasht Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Rasht

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $602 per month in Tehran vs $469 in Rasht, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,033 per month in Tehran vs $726 in Rasht, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,464 per month in Tehran vs $983 in Rasht, rent included.

Tehran costs about 28% more than Rasht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tehran and Rasht are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 56% lower, Rasht 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 $3.55

$3.45 $3.45

2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.64 $16.64

$16.67 $16.67

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.98 $3.98

-1.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.92 $0.92

5.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.03 $1.03

-4.85%

Cappuccino

$1.35 $1.35

$1.28 $1.28

5.47%

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

$0.50 $0.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.03 $1.03

61.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.58 $0.58

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.52 $0.52

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.83 $1.83

87.98%

Eggs

$1.27 $1.27

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.30 $4.30

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.57 $2.57

28.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 $10.14

$8.96 $8.96

13.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.70 $0.70

84.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.31 $1.31

33.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.74 $0.74

55.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.50 $0.50

44.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.47 $0.47

10.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.48 $0.48

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.36 $0.36

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.24 $0.24

20.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.26 $0.26

96.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.35 $1.35

56.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.63 $1.63

54.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 $0.10

$0.15 $0.15

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.48 $5.48

$11.15 $11.15

-50.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.51 $0.51

-5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.26 $0.26

11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.47 $1.47

107.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.09 $0.09

$0.08 $0.08

12.50%

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

$49.7K $49.7K

$50.6K $50.6K

-1.87%

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

$43.4K $43.4K

-0.15%

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

$13.19 $13.19

$13.55 $13.55

-2.66%

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

$1.60 $1.60

$1.58 $1.58

1.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.75 $3.75

-2.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.32 $24.32

$18.09 $18.09

34.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.27 $13.27

$11.74 $11.74

13.03%

Cinema Ticket

$2.02 $2.02

$0.97 $0.97

108.25%

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

$110 $110

$84.7 $84.7

30.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,586 $2,586

$2,629 $2,629

-1.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.83 $26.83

$16.02 $16.02

67.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.37 $38.37

$24.85 $24.85

54.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$107 $107

1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 $77.6

$76.5 $76.5

1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 $423

$212 $212

99.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 $248

$156 $156

58.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$981 $981

$376 $376

160.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 $616

$209 $209

194.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,292 $1,292

$1,236 $1,236

4.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$712 $712

$614 $614

15.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$218 $218

$214 $214

1.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

23.26%

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

Last update for Tehran: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rasht: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Tehran versus $212 in Rasht. 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 2% higher in Tehran, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Rasht. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Tehran vs $100 in Rasht – so Rasht 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 Rasht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran costs about 28% more than Rasht, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $904 per month in Tehran and $704 in Rasht. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 25% more in Tehran, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Tehran and $17.00 in Rasht. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $602 in Tehran and $469 in Rasht, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Rasht – 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 Rasht. 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.