Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Iran Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Iran

Name: Iran
Address: IR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,363 per month in United Kingdom vs $517 in Iran, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,471 per month in United Kingdom vs $826 in Iran, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,579 per month in United Kingdom vs $1,134 in Iran, rent included.

The cost of living in United Kingdom is about 357% higher than in Iran on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United Kingdom sits 77% above the global median, while Iran is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in United Kingdom ($1,670–$3,916) than in Iran ($406–$692), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 £15.05

$3.48 $3.48

481.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 £65.7

$18.86 $18.86

368.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.35 £7.70

$3.94 $3.94

162.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 $0.71

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

Cappuccino

$4.77 £3.55

$1.15 $1.15

314.78%

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

$2.44 £1.82

$0.58 $0.58

320.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 £1.29

$0.89 $0.89

94.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 £5.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 £4.85

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 £1.23

$0.63 $0.63

163.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 £1.27

$0.48 $0.48

256.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 £1.64

$2.11 $2.11

4.74%

Eggs

$4.09 £3.04

$1.16 $1.16

252.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 £7.08

$3.79 $3.79

151.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 £6.71

$3.02 $3.02

198.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.18 £10.54

$9.29 $9.29

52.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 £2.20

$0.85 $0.85

248.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 £1.25

$1.45 $1.45

15.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 £2.11

$0.94 $0.94

202.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 £2.54

$0.58 $0.58

487.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 £1.26

$0.55 $0.55

207.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 £1.17

$0.48 $0.48

229.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 £0.84

$0.52 $0.52

115.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 £1.14

$0.24 $0.24

537.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.82 $0.82

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 $1.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.16 £15.00

$1.98 $1.98

918.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 £7.79

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 £2.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 £2.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.33 £2.48

$0.22 $0.22

1413.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.3 £71.6

$10.17 $10.17

847.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.53 £4.11

$0.52 $0.52

963.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 £1.19

$0.31 $0.31

416.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.51 £20.47

$2.43 $2.43

1032.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 £1.41

$0.72 $0.72

163.89%

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

$38.1K £28.3K

$72.6K $72.6K

-47.55%

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

$41.0K £30.5K

$58.6K $58.6K

-30.05%

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

$326 £243

$15.81 $15.81

1962.37%

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

$17.18 £12.78

$2.13 $2.13

706.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 £31.96

$7.70 $7.70

457.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.94 £34.17

$17.24 $17.24

166.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.87 £11.81

$11.72 $11.72

35.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.80 £10.26

$1.53 $1.53

801.96%

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

$1,723 £1,281

$94.4 $94.4

1724.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K £15.5K

$1,293 $1,293

1514.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.3 £67.2

$26.84 $26.84

236.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 £33.02

$31.51 $31.51

40.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 £76.7

$111 $111

-7.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 £76.3

$65.7 $65.7

56.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 £1,055

$302 $302

369.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 £850

$213 $213

437.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 £1,709

$664 $664

246.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 £1,393

$427 $427

338.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,728 £4,260

$986 $986

480.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,339 £3,228

$583 $583

643.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,264 £2,428

$244 $244

1235.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

22.87

-74.86%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: July 13, 2026

Last update for Iran: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,266 in United Kingdom vs $294 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,937 in London and $491 in Tehran.

Average salary: $3,192 in United Kingdom vs $267 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 331% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 394% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 820% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 1096% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United Kingdom.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

United Kingdom vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 409% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United Kingdom, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United Kingdom consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iran, contributing to the overall 409% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iran, but in United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.