Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Zanjan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Zanjan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $692 per month in Tehran vs $425 in Zanjan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Tehran vs $761 in Zanjan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,555 per month in Tehran vs $1,096 in Zanjan, rent included.

Tehran costs about 63% more than Zanjan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tehran and Zanjan are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 48% lower, Zanjan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 $4.05

$3.04 $3.04

33.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 $18.29

$16.06 $16.06

13.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.23 $3.23

57.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.67 $0.67

-5.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.98 $0.98

3.06%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$0.96 $0.96

35.42%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.43 $0.43

4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.06 $1.06

1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.62 $0.62

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.52 $0.52

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.95 $1.95

-5.13%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$1.15 $1.15

3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.53 $3.53

-4.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.28 $3.28

2.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.44 $8.44

27.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.87 $0.87

6.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.27 $1.27

11.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.89 $0.89

-7.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.52 $0.52

21.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.49 $0.49

4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.54 $0.54

-7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.58 $0.58

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.24 $0.24

4.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.47 $0.47

25.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.29 $1.29

24.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.95 $1.95

25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.16 $0.16

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 $9.90

$10.14 $10.14

-2.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.29 $0.29

65.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$0.97 $0.97

217.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.72 $0.72

8.33%

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

$79.7K $79.7K

$60.7K $60.7K

31.35%

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

$53.9K $53.9K

$45.3K $45.3K

18.79%

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

$15.97 $15.97

$15.75 $15.75

1.40%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.26 $2.26

-3.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.69 $5.69

-1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.81 $22.81

$12.51 $12.51

82.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 $11.73

$12.36 $12.36

-5.10%

Cinema Ticket

$1.53 $1.53

$1.54 $1.54

-0.65%

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

$127 $127

$126 $126

1.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,949 $1,949

$1,990 $1,990

-2.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.39 $31.39

$31.37 $31.37

0.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 $34.37

$33.95 $33.95

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 $124

$123 $123

1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 $69.9

$71.3 $71.3

-1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$256 $256

91.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 $347

$99.3 $99.3

249.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 $1,012

$599 $599

68.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 $719

$310 $310

131.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 $1,244

$794 $794

56.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 $734

$467 $467

57.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 $217

$283 $283

-23.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

21.5

16.60%

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

Last update for Tehran: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zanjan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Tehran versus $256 in Zanjan. 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 31% higher in Zanjan, 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 $18.00 in Tehran versus $16.00 in Zanjan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $102 – making Zanjan 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 Zanjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Tehran and $638 in Zanjan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Tehran and $126 in Zanjan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Tehran, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Tehran and $425 in Zanjan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanjan – 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 Zanjan. 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.