Iran
Iran, located in Western Asia, is a nation of profound historical significance and cultural complexity. Situated in the Middle East, it shares borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey, with coastlines al...
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With a safety index of 49/100, Iran offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Most international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and EU countries, require an advance tourist visa to enter Iran. As of August 2025, independent travel is no longer permitted; all visa applications must be submitted through a certified Iranian tour operator with a fixed itinerary, including entry/exit points, day-by-day routes, pre-booked accommodations, and a licensed guide.[2][3][5] US, UK, and Canadian citizens have faced these guided tour requirements for years, but the rules now extend to...
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52% below EU avg
24% below EU avg
42% below EU avg
53% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Tehran
Timezone
UTC+03:30
Area
1,648,195 km²
Population
83,992,953
Iran shows a purchasing power index of 33/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$388.54B
HDI
0.8
Quality of Life
39/100
-4 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
14/100
-28 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Iran. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 22.6, NYC=100). Groceries (20.7), restaurants (16.2), and rent (7.6) are low despite high inflation above 30%.
Housing Market
Property prices average 16.7 years of household income, very expensive relative to incomes. Low rent index (7.6) offers some affordability.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 32.2. Real wages lag high inflation (38-48%), minimum wage ~$185/month.
Tax System
Income tax progressive 0-35% for residents; VAT 9%; corporate tax 25%. Sanctions complicate enforcement and compliance.
Business Environment
Challenging due to sanctions, bureaucracy, and energy crisis. No recent World Bank Doing Business rank; GDP growth slowing to 1-2.8% through 2026.
Social Security
Social Security Organization provides pensions, healthcare, unemployment insurance to covered workers. Coverage limited for informal sector; quality strained by economic pressures.
Iran, spanning over 1.6 million km², exhibits extreme climate diversity due to its vast plateau, towering mountains, and coastal regions. Predominantly arid and semi-arid under Köppen classification (BW and BS zones), it features scorching desert summers and chilly continental winters inland, while the Caspian coast offers mild humidity and the Zagros Mountains bring snowy conditions.
6 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
75.0
Population
83,992,953
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Iran. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Iran's Islamic Republic is led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as head of state, with President Masoud Pezeshkian as head of government since 2024. The system blends theocratic oversight with limited elections vetted by the Guardian Council, facing domestic unrest and regional setbacks in 2025 while preparing for risks in 2026.
Your Iran Roadmap
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Population
83,992,953
Currency
IRR
Timezone
UTC+03:30
Calling Code
+98
Week starts on
N/A
Gini Coefficient
N/A
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.