TEHRAN — Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is located in western Asia. With a population of more than 79 million people, Iran is ranked at 18 the world by population. Iran’s economy is influenced by statist policies and reliance on oil and gas exports. However, Iran also has a large agricultural, industrial and service sectors. The Iranian government directly controls hundreds of state-owned enterprises. A large number of companies that are affiliated with Iran’s security forces are also under the government’s control.
This type of distortion, which includes inflation and price control, is a heavy burden to Iran’s economy and reduces the potential for private sector-led growth. The country’s GDP in 2016 was about $1,46 trillion and the growth rate of GDP was 4.5 percent.
About 10.7 percent Iranians are unemployed and about 18.7 percent of the population is below the poverty line. An Iran citizen’s average monthly salary after tax is about $500. Here are some data about the cost of living in Iran.A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about $5. One gallon of regular milk at a supermarket is about $2.78. One pound of vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes is about ﷼8,000, which is about $0.27. A
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about $5. One gallon of regular milk at a supermarket is about $2.78. One pound of vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes is about $0.27. Dining at restaurants and buying food from the markets are cheaper than in the U.S.
A one-way ticket for local transport such as the metro is about $0.18. One gallon of gas costs $1.15.
The monthly rent for a 900-square-foot apartment with furniture in a normal area in Tehran is about $780. The price of the same apartment in an expensive area in Tehran can rise to about $1,340. Utilities (heating, electricity, gas, etc.) in the 900-square-feet apartment for one month is about $80.
The cost of standard healthcare in Iran varies. Most medical facilities in Iran are well-developed and the medical experts are well-trained. However, many medical experts decide to start their own private hospitals which offer better medical services. The cost of medical care jumps dramatically on a daily basis. Due to the changes on healthcare made by the Iran government, citizens in Iran end up paying nearly 70 percent of the total medical cost.
The cost of living in Iran, which rent is not taken into account, is about 50.53 percent lower than in United States. Rent alone in Iran is about 55.03 percent lower than in United States. Although the cost of living in Iran is relatively lower, it is still considered to be high for an average Iran citizen with a monthly salary of $500. In addition, the high unemployment rate is also a problem for the Iranian government. Due to the lack of job opportunities, many educated Iran citizens decide to seek employment overseas. Iran government has to take action to improve the economy for the Iranians.
– Mike Liu
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