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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $615 per month in Tehran vs $420 in Urmia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Tehran vs $715 in Urmia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,462 per month in Tehran vs $1,010 in Urmia, rent included.

Tehran costs about 46% more than Urmia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tehran and Urmia are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 55% lower, Urmia 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 $3.41

$4.94 $4.94

-30.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 $16.42

$23.88 $23.88

-31.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.95 $2.95

33.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.27 $1.27

-24.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.62 $1.62

-37.04%

Cappuccino

$1.34 $1.34

$1.09 $1.09

22.94%

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

$0.50 $0.50

$0.75 $0.75

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.49 $0.49

236.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.58 $0.58

15.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.43 $0.43

32.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.43 $2.43

43.21%

Eggs

$1.29 $1.29

$1.22 $1.22

5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.55 $3.55

18.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.45 $2.45

32.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.60 $6.60

48.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.92 $0.92

38.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.43 $1.43

24.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.77 $0.77

48.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.63 $0.63

6.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.52 $0.52

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.54 $0.54

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.60 $0.60

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.22 $0.22

40.91%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.68 $0.68

-8.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.53 $0.53

-1.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.46 $1.46

47.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.17 $1.17

107.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 $0.10

$0.17 $0.17

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.37 $5.37

$7.47 $7.47

-28.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.47 $0.47

10.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.29 $0.29

6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.32 $2.32

27.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.08 $0.08

$0.09 $0.09

-11.11%

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

$50.4K $50.4K

$50.6K $50.6K

-0.57%

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

$43.7K $43.7K

$43.1K $43.1K

1.29%

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

$13.57 $13.57

$13.20 $13.20

2.80%

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

$1.61 $1.61

$1.69 $1.69

-4.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.76 $3.76

0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.67 $24.67

$9.38 $9.38

163.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.41 $13.41

$13.52 $13.52

-0.81%

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 $1.99

$2.03 $2.03

-1.97%

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

$108 $108

$110 $110

-2.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,611 $2,611

$1,577 $1,577

65.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.47 $26.47

$21.57 $21.57

22.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.04 $37.04

$27.86 $27.86

32.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$106 $106

0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 $75.4

$32.55 $32.55

131.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 $419

$170 $170

145.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$132 $132

92.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 $988

$324 $324

204.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 $611

$268 $268

127.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,274 $1,274

$709 $709

79.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$720 $720

$599 $599

20.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$219 $219

$285 $285

-23.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

23.21

0.90%

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

Last update for Tehran: August 31, 2026

Last update for Urmia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $419 in Tehran versus $170 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 30% higher in Urmia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Tehran versus $24.00 in Urmia. Groceries tell a different story – $123 in Tehran vs $95.0 in Urmia – so Urmia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 46%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $922 per month in Tehran and $630 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 $108 per month in Tehran and $110 in Urmia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $615 in Tehran and $420 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.