Moving to Iran from Russia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Russia to Iran — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Russia to Iran, you would find that Iran is 33.8% cheaper than Russia overall. A RUB5,776,862 salary in Russia would need to be roughly IRR106,503,257,250 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 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Russia to Iran.
What does your salary buy?
RUB5,776,862 → IRR106,503,257,250
To maintain the same standard of living in Iran
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 7.7% less
Groceries
pay 40.1% less
Transportation
pay 2.4% more
Housing
pay 20.6% less
Childcare
pay 80.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.1% less
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Russia to Iran.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Russia generally does better on safety, though Iran leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Russia generally does better on environment, though Iran leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Russia performs better than Iran across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Russia performs better than Iran across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Russia generally does better on family life, though Iran leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Moscow | Tehran |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) | 52°/35°F (11°/2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 82°/61°F (28°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) | 94°/72°F (35°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Moscow | Tehran |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) | 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C) |
| Feb | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) | 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C) |
| Mar | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) | 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C) |
| Apr | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) | 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C) |
| May | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) | 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C) |
| Jul | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) | 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) | 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C) |
| Sep | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C) |
| Oct | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) |
| Nov | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) | 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C) |
| Dec | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C) |
Data:
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia 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.
Russia passport holder visiting Iran
Visa on Arrival
Iran passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Russia?
No — Iran is on average about 3% more expensive than Russia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iran?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IRR26,625,814,312 in Iran on a RUB5,776,862 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Iran?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iran has 12.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Iran safe for expats?
Russia generally does better on safety, though Iran leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia.
How is healthcare in Iran compared to Russia?
Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).
What's the weather like in Iran compared to Russia?
The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.
What language do they speak in Iran?
The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Russia, the official language is Russian.
