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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $428 per month in Zanjan vs $615 in Tehran, rent included.

A couple spends around $754 per month in Zanjan vs $1,038 in Tehran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,080 per month in Zanjan vs $1,462 in Tehran, rent included.

Zanjan is about 30% cheaper than Tehran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$3.41 $3.41

-9.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.84 $12.84

$16.42 $16.42

-21.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.94 $3.94

-24.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.96 $0.96

-6.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$1.01 $1.01

$1.34 $1.34

-24.63%

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

$0.50 $0.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.65 $1.65

-29.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.67 $0.67

5.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.57 $0.57

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.48 $3.48

-8.05%

Eggs

$1.23 $1.23

$1.29 $1.29

-4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.22 $4.22

-0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.25 $3.25

-0.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 $9.34

$9.80 $9.80

-4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.27 $1.27

-16.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.78 $1.78

-16.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.14 $1.14

-29.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.67 $0.67

-32.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$0.55 $0.55

-3.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.51 $0.51

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.56 $0.56

-21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.31 $0.31

-22.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.62 $0.62

-6.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.52 $0.52

3.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.15 $2.15

-31.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.43 $2.43

-30.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.10 $0.10

130.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.05 $10.05

$5.37 $5.37

87.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.52 $0.52

-40.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.95 $2.95

-66.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 $0.03

$0.08 $0.08

-62.50%

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

$50.1K $50.1K

$50.4K $50.4K

-0.53%

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

$42.5K $42.5K

$43.7K $43.7K

-2.63%

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

$13.33 $13.33

$13.57 $13.57

-1.77%

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

$1.55 $1.55

$1.61 $1.61

-3.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.78 $3.78

-1.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.41 $12.41

$24.67 $24.67

-49.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.33 $12.33

$13.41 $13.41

-8.05%

Cinema Ticket

$1.94 $1.94

$1.99 $1.99

-2.51%

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

$111 $111

$108 $108

3.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,620 $2,620

$2,611 $2,611

0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.84 $26.84

$26.47 $26.47

1.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 $37.81

$37.04 $37.04

2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$107 $107

1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 $75.7

$75.4 $75.4

0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$136 $136

$419 $419

-67.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.8 $99.8

$254 $254

-60.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 $381

$988 $988

-61.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 $311

$611 $611

-49.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$802 $802

$1,274 $1,274

-37.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$458 $458

$720 $720

-36.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 $290

$219 $219

32.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

-1.79%

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

Last update for Zanjan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Tehran: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $136 in Zanjan versus $419 in Tehran. 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 32% 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 $13.00 in Zanjan versus $16.00 in Tehran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $114 vs $123 – 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

Zanjan vs Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $642 per month in Zanjan and $922 in Tehran. 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 $111 per month in Zanjan and $108 in Tehran. 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 $428 in Zanjan and $615 in Tehran, 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.