Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in Tehran: $625 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $22,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tehran
🇮🇷 Iran
$625
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tehran and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tehran and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $625 per month in Tehran vs $2,530 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Tehran $625
  • Toronto $2,530

A couple spends around $1,071 per month in Tehran vs $3,646 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Tehran $1,071
  • Toronto $3,646

A family of three spends $1,516 per month in Tehran vs $4,761 in Toronto, rent included.

  • Tehran $1,516
  • Toronto $4,761

Tehran is about 75% cheaper than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Tehran sits 53% below the global median, while Toronto is 89% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66 $3.66
$17.67 CA$25.13
-79.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.96 $17.96
$77.4 CA$110
-76.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.96 $3.96
$10.47 CA$14.90
-62.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.69 $0.69
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.39 $1.39
$4.08 CA$5.80
-65.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$2.12 CA$3.01
-76.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.76 CA$2.50
-6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.17 CA$8.78
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.89 CA$9.80
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$2.43 CA$3.46
-71.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 $0.62
$2.75 CA$3.91
-77.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.23 CA$3.17
56.05%
Eggs
$1.23 $1.23
$3.45 CA$4.90
-64.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$8.93 CA$12.71
-51.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.45 $3.45
$11.44 CA$16.27
-69.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 $10.40
$14.61 CA$20.78
-28.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 $1.40
$3.75 CA$5.33
-62.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.15 CA$1.63
62.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$3.55 CA$5.05
-66.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 $0.67
$4.28 CA$6.09
-84.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 $0.54
$1.85 CA$2.62
-70.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 $0.47
$1.67 CA$2.37
-71.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 $0.58
$2.22 CA$3.15
-73.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 $0.28
$1.21 CA$1.72
-76.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.77 $0.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 $2.56
$13.88 CA$19.74
-81.56%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.25 CA$20.27
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.20 CA$3.12
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.42 CA$3.44
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 $0.11
$2.42 CA$3.44
-95.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.46 $5.46
$111 CA$158
-95.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 $0.52
$2.90 CA$4.12
-82.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 $0.29
$1.26 CA$1.79
-76.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$22.03 CA$31.33
-86.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.10 $0.10
$1.22 CA$1.74
-91.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0K $50.0K
$27.6K CA$39.3K
81.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K $44.5K
$19.8K CA$28.2K
124.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.91 $12.91
$122 CA$173
-89.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.64 $1.64
$32.03 CA$45.56
-94.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.79 $3.79
$47.92 CA$68.2
-92.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.40 $24.40
$38.90 CA$55.3
-37.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.24 $13.24
$23.24 CA$33.05
-43.03%
Cinema Ticket
$1.96 $1.96
$12.61 CA$17.94
-84.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 $106
$834 CA$1,186
-87.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,548 $2,548
$23.3K CA$33.2K
-89.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42 $26.42
$52.6 CA$74.8
-49.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.23 $37.23
$40.26 CA$57.3
-7.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$96.2 CA$137
21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0 $75.0
$123 CA$175
-38.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$420 $420
$1,598 CA$2,273
-73.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 $267
$1,435 CA$2,041
-81.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$941 $941
$2,657 CA$3,779
-64.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$637 $637
$2,096 CA$2,981
-69.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,238 $1,238
$8,033 CA$11.4K
-84.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$708 $708
$6,557 CA$9,327
-89.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tehran
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$211 $211
$3,743 CA$5,324
-94.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.79
4.47
454.59%

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

Last update for Tehran: October 4, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tehran
$267
Toronto
$1.4K 437% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Tehran
$128
Toronto
$340 166% $212
Clothing & Footwear
Tehran
$115
Toronto
$140 22.2% $25
Eating Out
Tehran
$66
Toronto
$282 324% $215
Sport & Entertainment
Tehran
$28
Toronto
$64 126% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tehran
$18
Toronto
$202 1001% $183
Getting Around
Tehran
$7.9
Toronto
$130 1545% $122

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $420 in Tehran versus $1,598 in Toronto. 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 1675% higher in Toronto, 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 $18.00 in Tehran versus $77.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $128 vs $340 – making Tehran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Tehran
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
06:16 6:16 AM
22:46 10:46 PM
7 h 30 min behind Tehran
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000,000 Capital
2,731,571
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tehran Toronto 9,890 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tehran
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tehran vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toronto cheaper than Tehran?
Yes – Toronto is pricier by about 305%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $938 per month in Tehran and $3,795 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tehran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Tehran and $834 in Toronto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tehran and in Toronto?
Groceries cost about 166% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tehran or in Toronto?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tehran, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Toronto at $2,530. In Tehran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tehran or Toronto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tehran – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tehran. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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