Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province in Iran, offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern living. Understanding the cost of living in Sanandaj is crucial for both residents and newcomers to budget effectively and make informed financial decisions.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of various expenses, including dining, groceries, transportation, housing, and utilities, to help you navigate the financial landscape of Sanandaj in 2024.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $3.25 on average, with a range between $1.5 and $5.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $15.
  • Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) - Domestic beer is priced between $0.5 and $1, averaging $0.65.
  • Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) - Imported beer costs between $1 and $2, with an average price of $1.
  • Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) - A bottle of Coke or Pepsi costs between $0.5 and $1, averaging $0.83.
  • Water (0.33 liter bottle) - A small bottle of water is priced between $0.5 and $1, averaging $0.75.
  • Cappuccino (regular) - A regular cappuccino costs between $0.5 and $1.5, averaging $1.1.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced between $0.4 and $1 per liter, averaging $0.72.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $0.5 and $0.9, with an average price of $0.7.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $0.81 to $1.2, averaging $1.
  • Local Cheese (1kg) - Local cheese averages $2 per kg.
  • Water (1.5 liter bottle) - A 1.5-liter bottle of water costs between $0.2 and $0.8, averaging $0.5.
  • Chicken Fillets (1kg) - Chicken fillets are priced between $2 and $3.5 per kg, averaging $2.75.
  • Apples (1kg) - Apples cost between $1 and $1.2 per kg, averaging $1.07.
  • Oranges (1kg) - Oranges range from $0.7 to $1 per kg, averaging $0.9.
  • Potato (1kg) - Potatoes are priced between $0.5 and $1 per kg, averaging $0.73.
  • Lettuce (1 head) - A head of lettuce costs between $0.2 and $1, averaging $0.5.
  • Rice (white), (1kg) - White rice costs between $1 and $2.5 per kg, averaging $2.07.
  • Tomato (1kg) - Tomatoes are priced between $0.5 and $1 per kg, averaging $0.73.
  • Banana (1kg) - Bananas cost between $1 and $2 per kg, averaging $1.48.
  • Onion (1kg) - Onions are priced between $0.5 and $1 per kg, averaging $0.73.
  • Beef Round (1kg) - Beef round is consistently priced at $10 per kg.

Transportation

  • Public Transport (One-Way Ticket) - A one-way local transport ticket costs $0.5.
  • Monthly Pass (Regular Price) - A monthly public transport pass costs $8.7.
  • Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) - Taxi fares start at $0.5.
  • Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) - The cost per kilometer in a taxi is $0.5.
  • Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) - An hour of waiting in a taxi costs $3.

Housing Costs

  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre ranges from $100 to $230, averaging $158.08.
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent ranges from $60 to $200, averaging $112.33.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre ranges from $250 to $420, averaging $332.33.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent ranges from $90 to $350, averaging $196.67.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - The price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city centre ranges from $577 to $1000, averaging $792.33.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, the price per square meter ranges from $270 to $300, averaging $285.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment are consistently priced at $10.
  • Mobile Phone Monthly Plan - A mobile phone plan with calls and 10GB+ data costs between $2 and $4, averaging $3.

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for Iran are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in Iran, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.

Highest to LowestUpdated: Feb, 2025

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 11 user contributions, as of the most recent update in February, 2024.
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$3.25
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$15.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.65
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75
Cappuccino (regular)
$1.10
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$0.72
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$0.70
Eggs (regular) (12)
$1.00
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.35
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.75
Apples (1kg)
$1.07
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90
Potato (1kg)
$0.73
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50
Rice (white), (1kg)
$2.07
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73
Banana (1kg)
$1.48
Onion (1kg)
$0.73
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$10.00
Transportation
Avg / Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
$0.50
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.70
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$0.50
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.00
Rent Per Month
Avg / Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre
$158.08
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre
$112.33
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
$332.33
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
$196.67
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$10.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$3.00
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
$5.93
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$1.00
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$15.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$62.50
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$45.00
Buy Apartment Price
Avg / Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
$792.33
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre
$285.00
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$255.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
22%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$40.00
Sanandaj Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Sanandaj offers a relatively low cost of living compared to many global cities, with affordable dining and housing options.

Public transportation is economical, making it easy to navigate the city without a personal vehicle.

Basic utilities and mobile phone plans are very affordable, contributing to the overall cost-effectiveness of living in Sanandaj.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sanandaj presents an affordable living environment with reasonable costs across various categories such as dining, housing, and transportation.

For those considering moving to or residing in Sanandaj, understanding these costs can aid in effective budgeting and financial planning.