Tehran Households Face 168 Million Rial Food Bill as Inflation Near 90 Percent

Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati acknowledged on October 23 that Iranians are bearing a heavy economic burden, though he stated that external efforts to isolate the national economy have failed to reach their primary goals. His remarks come as new data indicates that the cost of basic sustenance has surged to levels that consume a vast portion of average household income.

The financial pressure stems from a combination of long-term sanctions, persistent inflation, and the depreciating value of the rial. These factors were compounded by the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28. The war damaged infrastructure, while a US naval blockade of Iranian ports reduced oil exports and imported goods. Iranian attacks on the Strait of Hormuz further disrupted shipping lanes. In August, the US Treasury initiated a sanctions campaign dubbed Economic D-Day to tighten financial isolation.

A field survey by Radio Farda in central Tehran shows that families are altering their shopping habits to cope with rising prices. Activities previously standard for the middle class, such as dining out and travel, are being abandoned. The cost of home cooking has also doubled in some cases. A meal of ghormeh sabzi, the national herb stew, now costs 23 million rials, or about 8.45 dollars. Potato patties, a common staple, cost approximately 4 million rials.

Factnameh, a fact-checking organization based in Canada, calculated the cost of 11 essential food items in September. The per-person expense was 56 million rials, or 20.70 dollars. For a family of three, the total cost reached 168 million rials, equivalent to 61.70 dollars. The government provides a food voucher worth 10 million rials, but this amount now covers less than 18 percent of the per-person cost. This coverage has dropped from about 30 percent in December 2025.

Annual inflation hit 89.9 percent in September, while the average monthly wage is estimated at 100 dollars. A retired woman living on a pension of 180 million rials, or 66 dollars a month, said she has reduced her intake of meat and other proteins since March. She worries about her health but notes that her lack of rent payments provides some relief.

Higher earners are also adjusting their lifestyles. A man in western Tehran with household income of 1 billion rials, or 367 dollars, said he can manage daily expenses but has no savings. His income is well above the Tehran average of 600 million rials, or 220 dollars. He stated that he can live for today but has no savings for tomorrow, adding that travel and saving have disappeared from his life.

A 28-year-old woman earning 400 million rials, or 147 dollars a month, described changes in her social habits. She and her friends used to visit cafes weekly. Now, they often split a single dish between two people to reduce the bill. She said sharing is the only way to make outings affordable. Another newly married woman reported that her family used wedding funds for a housing deposit. She now works two shifts to repay a loan and said her home has become a place only for sleeping. She noted that every morning, she knows she is poorer than the day before.