Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Urmia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Urmia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $431 in Urmia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $731 in Urmia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,031 in Urmia, rent included.

Tehran costs about 65% more than Urmia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Urmia are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Urmia 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$3.68 $3.68

5.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$16.96 $16.96

6.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.42 $4.42

14.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.22 $1.22

-49.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.58 $1.58

-35.44%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$1.21 $1.21

7.44%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.90 $0.90

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.57 $0.57

80.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.72 $0.72

-20.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.33 $2.33

-19.74%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.13 $1.13

2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.40 $3.40

0.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.57 $2.57

26.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$6.43 $6.43

69.98%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.93 $0.93

-5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.77 $0.77

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.48 $0.48

14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.52 $0.52

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.55 $0.55

5.45%

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

$0.65 $0.65

-4.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.50 $0.50

18.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.38 $1.38

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.18 $1.18

117.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.17 $0.17

41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.97 $9.97

-0.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.38 $0.38

36.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.24 $0.24

29.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.97 $1.97

55.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.77 $0.77

-1.30%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$75.8K $75.8K

7.40%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$44.3K $44.3K

26.16%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$15.59 $15.59

0.96%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$2.04 $2.04

6.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.89 $5.89

-3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$22.31 $22.31

3.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$5.60 $5.60

111.96%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

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

$125 $125

$117 $117

7.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,938 $1,938

3.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$22.41 $22.41

37.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$24.94 $24.94

36.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$110 $110

10.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$32.46 $32.46

116.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$172 $172

183.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$129 $129

161.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$319 $319

220.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$271 $271

161.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

$690 $690

83.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

$588 $588

38.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$192 $192

10.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

19.38%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Urmia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $172 in Urmia. 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 10% 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 $18.00 in Tehran versus $17.00 in Urmia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $97.0 – making Urmia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Urmia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Tehran and $647 in Urmia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $125 per month in Tehran and $117 in Urmia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Tehran, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Tehran and $431 in Urmia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Urmia – 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 Urmia. 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.