Moving to Iran from Zimbabwe

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zimbabwe to Iran, you would find that Iran is 42.5% cheaper than Zimbabwe overall. A ZWL24,000,000 salary in Zimbabwe would need to be roughly IRR58,900,000,000 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Iran cheaper than Zimbabwe?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 29.7% less

Groceries

pay 55.5% less

Transportation

pay 60.3% less

Housing

pay 25.7% less

Childcare

pay 76.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 60.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ZWL = 4268.94 IRR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Iran?

What does your salary buy?

ZWL24,000,000 → IRR58,900,000,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Iran

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Iran

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iran compared to Zimbabwe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
6.8
IR
2.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
29.9
IR
20.6

Iran performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZW
$103
IR
$1,064
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

ZW
1.4
IR
18.1

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZW
56.0
IR
51.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZW
0.8t
IR
9.1t

Zimbabwe generally does better on environment, though Iran leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZW
1.9
IR
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZW
46.1%
IR
81.3%

Iran generally does better on infrastructure, though Zimbabwe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ZW
9.3%
IR
8.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZW
$3,021
IR
$3,924

Iran performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

ZW
63.1 yrs
IR
77.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZW
62.4
IR
10.3

Iran generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe leads in literacy rate.

Weather in Iran vs Zimbabwe

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harare Tehran
Jan–Mar 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 52°/35°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 94°/72°F (35°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
View all months
Month Harare Tehran
Jan 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C)
Feb 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C)
Mar 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C)
Apr 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C)
May 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C)
Jun 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C)
Jul 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C)
Aug 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C)
Oct 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C)
Nov 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C)
Dec 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C)

Data: Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department

Can you move from Zimbabwe to Iran?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe 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.

Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Iran

Visa Free
Zimbabwe passport holders can enter Iran without a visa.
Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa on Arrival
Iran passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe.

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 Zimbabwe?

On average Iran is about 42% less expensive than Zimbabwe, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iran?

Budget about IRR14,725,000,000 for 3 months in Iran (based on a ZWL24,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iran?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iran: 12.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iran offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iran safe for expats?

Iran performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Zimbabwe.

How is healthcare in Iran compared to Zimbabwe?

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 18.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 1.4 in Zimbabwe. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).

What's the weather like in Iran compared to Zimbabwe?

The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.

Share this

At a Glance

ZW IR
Population 16,950,795 92,417,681
Currency Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +263 +98
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 115