Moving to Iran from New York

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What to Expect

Considering a move from New York to Iran? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from New York to Iran, you would find that Iran is 64.6% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly IRR58,858,250,000 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tehran averages 72°F vs 58°F in Albany, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New York and Iran.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 IRR58,858,250,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Iran

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 66.4% less

Groceries

pay 72.1% less

Transportation

pay 25.2% less

Housing

pay 85.5% less

Childcare

pay 95.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 82.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1375000.0 IRR (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iran compared to New York.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NY
29.9%
IR
25.8%

Iran performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
IR
79.0%

New York performs better than Iran across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NY
4.4%
IR
9.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
IR
$16,200

New York performs better than Iran across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NY
77.7 yrs
IR
75.2 yrs

New York performs better than Iran across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Albany Rain: 39.4 in/yr (1000 mm)
58° / 39°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Albany Tehran
Jan–Mar 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) 52°/35°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/14°C) 94°/72°F (35°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
View all months
Month Albany Tehran
Jan 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C)
Feb 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C)
Mar 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C)
May 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C)
Aug 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C)
Dec 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Iran. To live, work, or study long-term in Iran, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iran's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Iran

Visa Required
United States passport holders need a visa to enter Iran.
Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Iran passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Iran than New York?

On average Iran is about 43% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iran?

Budget about IRR14,714,562,500 for 3 months in Iran (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iran?

From major Iran cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Iran are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Iran compared to New York?

Iran performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Iran compared to New York?

The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In New York, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

IR
Population 19,378,102 86,758,304
Currency United States Dollar ($) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages English Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +98
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 115