Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Shiraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Shiraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Tehran versus $554 in Shiraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Tehran versus $882 in Shiraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Tehran versus $1,211 in Shiraz.

Living in Tehran is roughly 28% more expensive than Shiraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tehran 47% lower, Shiraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$5.99 $5.99

-35.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$14.05 $14.05

28.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.42 $3.42

47.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.68 $0.68

-8.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.03 $2.03

-49.75%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.01 $1.01

28.71%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$1.47 $1.47

-69.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.17 $1.17

-11.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.64 $0.64

-7.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.50 $0.50

14.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.59 $1.59

17.61%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.19 $1.19

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.91 $2.91

17.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.74 $3.74

-13.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.97 $9.97

9.63%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.87 $0.87

1.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.01 $1.01

-19.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.56 $0.56

19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.46 $0.46

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.76 $0.76

-23.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.26 $0.26

-11.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.02 $1.02

-39.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.64 $0.64

-7.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.43 $1.43

12.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.36 $2.36

8.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.22 $0.22

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$2.39 $2.39

316.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.29 $0.29

79.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.17 $0.17

82.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.76 $1.76

74.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.73 $0.73

4.11%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$74.4K $74.4K

9.43%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$80.0K $80.0K

-30.14%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$36.57 $36.57

-56.96%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$1.94 $1.94

12.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$19.23 $19.23

-70.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.90 $15.90

44.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$15.82 $15.82

-24.97%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$2.02 $2.02

-23.76%

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

$125 $125

$156 $156

-19.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$2,156 $2,156

-7.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$24.32 $24.32

26.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$20.47 $20.47

66.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$73.2 $73.2

66.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$41.72 $41.72

68.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$287 $287

70.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$205 $205

63.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$471 $471

116.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$400 $400

77.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,072 $1,072

18.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$534 $534

52.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$203 $203

3.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

22.24

12.72%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Tehran and $287 in Shiraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tehran pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $14.00 in Shiraz. Groceries flip the comparison at $110 vs $110, with Tehran 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 Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shiraz is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tehran pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Tehran versus $287 in Shiraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $125 in Tehran versus $156 in Shiraz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Shiraz 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 Shiraz 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 Shiraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.