Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanjan and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanjan and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $415 per month in Zanjan vs $454 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $750 per month in Zanjan vs $784 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,085 per month in Zanjan vs $1,115 in Mashhad, rent included.

Zanjan is about 9% cheaper than Mashhad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanjan and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Zanjan 69% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 $2.93

$2.98 $2.98

-1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.79 $15.79

$20.35 $20.35

-22.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.04 $5.04

-34.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.49 $0.49

38.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.92 $0.92

6.52%

Cappuccino

$0.96 $0.96

$1.10 $1.10

-12.73%

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

$0.43 $0.43

$0.40 $0.40

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.44 $0.44

140.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.53 $0.53

13.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.27 $0.27

96.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.89 $1.89

1.59%

Eggs

$1.17 $1.17

$1.13 $1.13

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.13 $2.13

65.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.49 $2.49

28.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.53 $8.53

$10.21 $10.21

-16.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.22 $1.22

9.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.85 $0.85

-2.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.60 $0.60

-13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.47 $0.47

12.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.49 $0.49

8.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.52 $0.52

9.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.32 $0.32

-31.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.88 $0.88

-35.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.74 $0.74

-32.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.90 $0.90

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.71 $2.71

-23.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 $0.17

$0.22 $0.22

-22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.86 $9.86

$4.33 $4.33

127.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.33 $0.33

-12.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.52 $0.52

-44.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.02 $2.02

-49.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.83 $0.83

-10.84%

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

$59.9K $59.9K

0.01%

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

$44.7K $44.7K

$70.3K $70.3K

-36.45%

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

$15.55 $15.55

$13.51 $13.51

15.10%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$2.35 $2.35

-2.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.81 $5.81

$5.68 $5.68

2.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.63 $12.63

$18.79 $18.79

-32.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.69 $12.69

$15.12 $15.12

-16.07%

Cinema Ticket

$1.47 $1.47

$2.04 $2.04

-27.94%

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

$129 $129

$46.74 $46.74

175.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,939 $1,939

$626 $626

209.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.67 $31.67

$22.36 $22.36

41.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.79 $33.79

$37.55 $37.55

-10.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$94.4 $94.4

29.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 $70.9

$86.9 $86.9

-18.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 $252

$212 $212

18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 $101

$147 $147

-31.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 $578

$452 $452

27.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 $305

$322 $322

-5.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$785 $785

$1,158 $1,158

-32.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$473 $473

$677 $677

-30.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 $289

$257 $257

12.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.5

20.5

4.88%

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

Last update for Zanjan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Zanjan versus $212 in Mashhad. 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 12% 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 $16.00 in Zanjan versus $20.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $101 in Zanjan vs $96.0 in Mashhad – so Mashhad 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

Zanjan vs Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad costs about 9% more than Zanjan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $622 per month in Zanjan and $681 in Mashhad. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $415 in Zanjan and $454 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 128% less in Zanjan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $415 in Zanjan and $454 in Mashhad, 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, Mashhad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.