Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Iran

Name: Iran
Address: IR

For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $497 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $26,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Iran
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Iran Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇮🇷 Iran

$497

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Iran

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

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $497 in Iran, rent included.

United States $2,734
Iran $497

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $809 in Iran, rent included.

United States $3,985
Iran $809

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.

United States $5,235
Iran $1,121

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Iran ($361–$874), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 450% higher than in Iran on average.

The United States sits 101% above the global median, while Iran is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$3.41 $3.41

487.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$15.99 $15.99

400.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$3.95 $3.95

198.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 $0.85

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$1.18 $1.18

370.34%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$0.53 $0.53

401.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.85 $0.85

155.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.62 $0.62

67.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$0.48 $0.48

647.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.35 $2.35

92.34%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$1.11 $1.11

285.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$3.74 $3.74

253.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$3.00 $3.00

320.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$9.85 $9.85

78.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$0.97 $0.97

446.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.47 $1.47

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$0.89 $0.89

398.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$0.58 $0.58

722.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.51 $0.51

482.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.46 $0.46

584.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.51 $0.51

331.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.23 $0.23

921.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 $1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 $0.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 $1.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$2.21 $2.21

396.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.15 $0.15

1193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$10.20 $10.20

482.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.52 $0.52

588.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.31 $0.31

506.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$2.43 $2.43

1127.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.28 $0.28

264.29%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$59.2K $59.2K

-51.41%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$52.7K $52.7K

-50.28%

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

$218 $218

$13.72 $13.72

1488.63%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$2.30 $2.30

2616.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$6.70 $6.70

1011.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$16.70 $16.70

150.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$12.24 $12.24

86.36%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$1.54 $1.54

854.55%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$81.3 $81.3

1731.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$1,146 $1,146

2103.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$22.85 $22.85

137.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$26.56 $26.56

60.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$100 $100

-6.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$62.5 $62.5

81.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$252 $252

558.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$180 $180

649.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$556 $556

382.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$345 $345

529.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$994 $994

230.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$585 $585

324.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$243 $243

1670.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

23.39

-72.00%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Iran: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Iran

$180 36.1% 86.7% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Iran

$108 21.7% 74% $308

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Iran

$23 4.6% 93.6% $332

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Iran

$59 11.8% 82.1% $269

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Iran

$96 19.2% 30.3% $42

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Iran

$13 2.6% 83.9% $67

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Iran

$20 4% 72.2% $51

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $295 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $430 in Tehran.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 449% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 369% more in the United States.

Public transport is 530% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 17 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇮🇷 Iran

🕒 Local time

06:28 6:28 AM

13:58 1:58 PM

7 h 30 min ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

86,758,304

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

United States Iran 10,990 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

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

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 States vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 82% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $295 in Iran.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 82% cheaper overall.

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