đMonthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Tehran versus $522 in SÄŤrjÄn.
đEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Tehran versus $825 in SÄŤrjÄn.
đMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Tehran versus $1,127 in SÄŤrjÄn.
đLiving in Tehran is roughly 36% more expensive than SÄŤrjÄn, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
đBoth cities sit below the global median: Tehran47% lower, SÄŤrjÄn61% lower.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.89$3.89
$3.96$3.96
-1.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.06$18.06
$17.15$17.15
5.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.06$5.06
$4.52$4.52
11.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.62$0.62
$0.64$0.64
-3.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$1.05$1.05
-2.86%
Cappuccino
$1.30$1.30
$1.15$1.15
13.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45$0.45
$0.46$0.46
-2.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03$1.03
$0.92$0.92
11.96%
đ Groceries & Markets
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59$0.59
$0.59$0.59
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.57$0.57
$0.53$0.53
7.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87$1.87
$1.92$1.92
-2.60%
Eggs
$1.16$1.16
$1.19$1.19
-2.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$3.43$3.43
-0.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$3.21$3.21
0.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.93$10.93
$10.09$10.09
8.33%
Apples(1kg)
$0.88$0.88
$0.86$0.86
2.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42$1.42
$1.41$1.41
0.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81$0.81
$0.84$0.84
-3.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67$0.67
$0.58$0.58
15.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55$0.55
$0.52$0.52
5.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50$0.50
$0.45$0.45
11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58$0.58
$0.60$0.60
-3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23$0.23
$0.25$0.25
-8.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.62$0.62
$0.53$0.53
16.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.59$0.59
$0.46$0.46
28.26%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61$1.61
$1.37$1.37
17.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57$2.57
$2.22$2.22
15.77%
đ Getting Around
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24$0.24
$0.21$0.21
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.95$9.95
$10.16$10.16
-2.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52$0.52
$0.37$0.37
40.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31$0.31
$0.27$0.27
14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07$3.07
$2.02$2.02
51.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$0.78$0.78
-2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$81.4K$81.4K
$71.4K$71.4K
14.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.9K$55.9K
$55.7K$55.7K
0.27%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.74$15.74
$15.64$15.64
0.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.18$2.18
$2.11$2.11
3.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.66$5.66
$5.69$5.69
-0.53%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.05$23.05
$16.25$16.25
41.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87$11.87
$12.60$12.60
-5.79%
Cinema Ticket
$1.54$1.54
$1.54$1.54
-
𧸠Childcare & Education
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125$125
$114$114
9.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,001$2,001
$1,958$1,958
2.21%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.87$30.87
$22.09$22.09
39.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.04$34.04
$25.06$25.06
35.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122$122
$109$109
11.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4$70.4
$68.9$68.9
2.22%
đ Accommodation & Living
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489$489
$290$290
68.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336$336
$200$200
68.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020$1,020
$629$629
62.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709$709
$325$325
118.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,265$1,265
$1,135$1,135
11.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$817$817
$626$626
30.43%
đľ Salaries & Financials
Tehran
SÄŤrjÄn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$211$211
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.07
22.24
12.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026
Last update for SÄŤrjÄn: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Tehran and $290 in SÄŤrjÄn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
đDining out: $18.00 in Tehran vs $17.00 in SÄŤrjÄn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $107 per month, with SÄŤrjÄn 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 SÄŤrjÄn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn?
Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($710 vs $522 including rent). SÄŤrjÄn is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tehran compared to SÄŤrjÄn?
You'd need roughly $1,065 in Tehran and $783 in SÄŤrjÄn to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn?
Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Tehran versus $290 in SÄŤrjÄn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn?
Childcare runs $125 in Tehran versus $114 in SÄŤrjÄn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Tehran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $1,200 go in Tehran vs SÄŤrjÄn?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though SÄŤrjÄn gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tehran or SÄŤrjÄn safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tehran and SÄŤrjÄn are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tehran or SÄŤrjÄn?
Expats usually find SÄŤrjÄn gentler on the wallet â expenses run 36% less than in Tehran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.