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Cost of Living in Kandahār

Kandahār, Kandahār, Afghanistan · Population 614,254

▲ +0% vs Afghanistan average

Single person, monthly (incl. rent)؋20,863 ($298)
Couple, monthly؋37,059 ($529)
Family of four, monthly؋47,957 ($685)

Estimated Prices in Kandahār

ExpenseEstimated costBasis
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant؋223 ($3.18)per meal
Three-course meal for two, mid-range؋890 ($12.72)per meal
Cappuccino؋66.78 ($0.95)each
Monthly groceries (single person)؋5,046 ($72.08)per month
Monthly public transport pass؋816 ($11.66)per month
Basic utilities for an 85m² apartment؋2,152 ($30.74)per month
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited)؋623 ($8.90)per month
Fitness club membership؋623 ($8.90)per month
Cinema ticket؋163 ($2.33)each
One-bedroom apartment in city centre؋8,658 ($124)per month
One-bedroom apartment outside centre؋6,023 ($86.04)per month
Three-bedroom apartment in city centre؋18,069 ($258)per month

Salary & Budget Planning

The estimated average net salary in Kandahār is ؋14,840 ($212) per month. To live comfortably — covering the full single-person budget of ؋20,863 ($298) with about 30% left over for savings — you would need a net income of roughly ؋27,122 ($387) per month.

Housing takes the largest share: rent for a one-bedroom outside the centre (؋6,023 ($86)) represents about 29% of the total single-person budget.

Compare Kandahār

Kandahār vs KabulKandahār vs Mazār-e SharīfKandahār vs HerātKandahār vs KunduzKandahār vs JalālābādKandahār vs Tāluqān

Nearby Cities

Spīn Bōldak

94 km away · Kandahār

Sangīn

97 km away · Helmand

Gereshk

111 km away · Helmand

Tarīn Kōṯ

113 km away · Uruzgān

Qalāt

125 km away · Zābul

Lashkar Gāh

127 km away · Helmand

Ḩukūmatī Baghrān

171 km away · Helmand

Ḩukūmatī Gīzāb

198 km away · Dāykundī

Other Major Cities in Afghanistan

Kabul

Kābul · pop. 5,333,284

؋25,974 ($371) / mo

Mazār-e Sharīf

Balkh · pop. 568,013

؋20,863 ($298) / mo

Herāt

Herāt · pop. 556,205

؋20,863 ($298) / mo

Kunduz

Kunduz · pop. 356,536

؋20,863 ($298) / mo

Jalālābād

Nangarhār · pop. 318,733

؋20,863 ($298) / mo

Tāluqān

Takhār · pop. 258,758

؋20,863 ($298) / mo

Lashkar Gāh

Helmand · pop. 201,546

؋19,600 ($280) / mo

Shibirghān

Jowzjān · pop. 175,599

؋19,600 ($280) / mo

Living in Kandahār

Kandahār is one of the key cities in Afghanistan. The estimated monthly cost of living for a single person is ؋20,863 ($298), placing it above the national average. Housing represents the largest expense, with a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre costing around ؋6,023 ($86) per month.

For families, the estimated budget rises to ؋47,957 ($685) per month, driven mainly by larger housing needs and increased food and transport spending. Couples can expect to spend approximately ؋37,059 ($529) monthly.

The average estimated net salary in Kandahār is ؋14,840 ($212). To maintain a comfortable lifestyle with room for savings, a single person typically needs a net income of at least ؋27,122 ($387) per month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kandahār expensive to live in?
A single person needs an estimated ؋20,863 ($298) per month in Kandahār including rent outside the city centre. That is 0% more than the national average for Afghanistan.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Kandahār?
A net salary of around ؋27,122 ($387) per month lets a single person cover all estimated expenses in Kandahār with roughly 30% left for savings. The estimated average net salary in Kandahār is ؋14,840 ($212).
How much is rent in Kandahār?
A one-bedroom apartment costs an estimated ؋8,658 ($124) per month in the city centre and ؋6,023 ($86) outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about ؋18,069 ($258).
Is Kandahār cheaper than Afghanistan on average?
No — Kandahār is estimated to be about 0% more expensive than the Afghanistan average, mainly due to housing demand.
What is the cost of groceries in Kandahār?
Monthly groceries for one person are estimated at ؋5,046 ($72) in Kandahār. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about ؋223 ($3) and a cappuccino runs around ؋67 ($1).
How do transport costs in Kandahār compare?
A monthly public transport pass in Kandahār is estimated at ؋816 ($12). Transport makes up a small share of the total budget compared to housing and food.
Figures for Kandahār are estimates based on Afghanistan national averages adjusted for city size (population 614,254). Last model update: July 2026. How we calculate.