Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Sari Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Sari

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Tehran versus $571 in Sari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Tehran versus $836 in Sari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Tehran versus $1,101 in Sari.

Living in Tehran is roughly 24% more expensive than Sari, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 47% lower, Sari 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$3.91 $3.91

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$11.05 $11.05

63.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.92 $4.92

2.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.01 $1.01

0.99%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$0.76 $0.76

71.05%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.42 $0.42

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.56 $0.56

83.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.63 $0.63

-6.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.55 $0.55

3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.86 $1.86

0.54%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.20 $1.20

-3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.56 $3.56

-3.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.10 $3.10

4.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$7.33 $7.33

49.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.42 $0.42

109.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.89 $0.89

59.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.82 $0.82

-1.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.66 $0.66

1.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.53 $0.53

-5.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.16 $0.16

43.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.59 $0.59

5.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.35 $0.35

68.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.56 $1.56

3.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.99 $1.99

29.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.11 $0.11

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.19 $10.19

-2.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.41 $2.41

27.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.69 $0.69

10.14%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$79.1K $79.1K

2.97%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$55.2K $55.2K

1.22%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$15.80 $15.80

-0.38%

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

$2.18 $2.18

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.61 $5.61

0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$32.81 $32.81

-29.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$11.16 $11.16

6.36%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$0.98 $0.98

57.14%

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

$125 $125

$50.9 $50.9

145.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$814 $814

145.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$31.37 $31.37

-1.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$34.14 $34.14

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$120 $120

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$71.0 $71.0

-0.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$534 $534

-8.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$226 $226

48.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$639 $639

59.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$298 $298

138.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,031 $1,031

22.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$462 $462

76.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$371 $371

-42.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sari: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Tehran and $534 in Sari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sari pays 75% 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 $11.00 in Sari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $93.0 per month, with Sari 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 Sari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tehran and Sari differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($710 vs $571 including rent). Sari is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Sari earns 75% 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: $489 in Tehran versus $534 in Sari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Sari – a meal for two runs $11.00 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 Sari 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 Sari 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 Sari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.