Cost Of Living For a Family in Herat 2024

Average monthly spending for families in Herat

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Herat?

Families in Herat spend around 180,000 AFN per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 62,000 AFN or as high as 1.1M AFN. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Herat

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Herat

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Herat spend around 92% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 84% of their income while some as high as 100%.

How do families spend their money in Herat?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Herat typically spend from 20% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 56,000 AFN with expenditure ranging from 20,000 AFN to 370,000 AFN. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Herat ranges from 4% to 9% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 8,800 AFN with 3,100 AFN and 57,000 AFN being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 6,200 AFN to 110,000 AFN in a month on commuting with 18,000 AFN being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Herat is 32,000 AFN. The cost of groceries can range between 11,000 AFN to 210,000 AFN. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Herat allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 5,500 AFN to 91,000 AFN with 18,000 AFN being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 3,100 AFN to 57,000 AFN with 8,800 AFN being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 25,000 AFN per month with 8,600 AFN being the minimum spent amount and 160,000 AFN being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Herat are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 50% of surveyed families in Herat said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 50% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 10% to 29% of their monthly income to their savings, with 17% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 55,000 AFN with 19,000 AFN and 360,000 AFN being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Herat

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Herat. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Herat

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Herat

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Herat?

Around 55% of surveyed families think that living in Herat is affordable with proper budgeting while 45% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Herat

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options58%

Few low-cost options42%

Based on the survey, 58% of the families living in Herat have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Herat whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes55%

No45%

Based on the survey, 45% of the families living in Herat said that they don't have an emergency fund while 55% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Afghanistan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy49%

We asked family guardians and parents in Herat whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 51% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 49% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Afghanistan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 41% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 59% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance41%

Easily manages finances59%

Financial goals of families in Herat

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Herat, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 43% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 6% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Herat

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the families in Herat have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Herat

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of a family's monthly income in Herat goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Herat pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 18% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 15% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 17% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Herat

8% of debtors in Herat confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 15% of people and personal loans rose at 43%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Herat.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Herat

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Herat how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Herat

Rent Cost in Herat

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

9,600 AFN

14,000 AFN

38,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$200

$520

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

14,000 AFN

23,000 AFN

58,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200

$310

$790

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

19,000 AFN

29,000 AFN

77,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260

$390

$1,000

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

23,000 AFN

38,000 AFN

100,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$520

$1,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

46,000 AFN

120,000 AFN

230,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630

$1,600

$3,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

38,000 AFN

58,000 AFN

160,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$520

$790

$2,200

House monthly rent cost

46,000 AFN

120,000 AFN

230,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630

$1,600

$3,100

Villa monthly rent cost

58,000 AFN

140,000 AFN

230,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$790

$2,000

$3,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Herat ranges between 9,600 AFN and 38,000 AFN, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 14,000 AFN to 58,000 AFN. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 19,000 AFN and 77,000 AFN per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 23,000 AFN to 100,000 AFN. The average rent of a townhouse in Herat is around 58,000 AFN while house rental costs can be as high as 120,000 AFN per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 58,000 AFN to 230,000 AFN per month.

Apartment and house prices in Herat

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.9M AFN

2.9M AFN

5.8M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$26,000

$39,000

$79,000

1-bedroom apartment price

2.3M AFN

3.8M AFN

14M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$31,000

$52,000

$200,000

2-bedroom apartment price

3.8M AFN

12M AFN

23M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52,000

$160,000

$310,000

3-bedroom apartment price

13M AFN

19M AFN

58M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$260,000

$790,000

Townhouse price

16M AFN

38M AFN

140M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220,000

$520,000

$2M

House price

19M AFN

120M AFN

160M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$1.6M

$2.2M

Villa price

23M AFN

130M AFN

190M AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310,000

$1.7M

$2.6M

The average price of a studio apartment in Herat can range from 1.9M AFN to 5.8M AFN depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2.3M AFN to 14M AFN. A villa can cost you 130M AFN on average with prices ranging from 23M AFN to 190M AFN.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Herat can be x103 to x205 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x103 multiples of the average monthly salary in Herat.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Herat is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Herat

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Herat

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

3,100 AFN

8,800 AFN

57,000 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42

$120

$780

Internet and cable cost

570 AFN

1,100 AFN

1,500 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.7

$15

$21

Mobile phone bill and charges

450 AFN

750 AFN

2,300 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.2

$10

$31

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 8,800 AFN. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 570 AFN to 1,500 AFN with 1,100 AFN being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 750 AFN but can range between 450 AFN and 2,300 AFN depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Herat is around 6.2%. This means that people pay 6.2% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.1% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Herat

Prices and cost of goods and services in Herat

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

110 AFN

230 AFN

380 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$3.1

$5.1

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Herat is approximatly 230 AFN with meal cost ranging from 110 AFN to 380 AFN. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

380 AFN

570 AFN

1,100 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.2

$7.8

$16

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 380 AFN and 1,100 AFN with 570 AFN being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Herat.

Fine dining meal for one price

760 AFN

1,100 AFN

4,600 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$16

$62

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 760 AFN to 4,600 AFN with the average cost being 1,100 AFN for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Herat.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

94 AFN

150 AFN

230 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$2.1

$3.1

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Herat is around 150 AFN. Price ranges between 94 AFN and 230 AFN depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

75 AFN

90 AFN

110 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.2

$1.5

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Herat is 90 AFN. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 110 AFN and the minimum being 75 AFN depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

57 AFN

75 AFN

110 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1

$1.5

A dozen eggs costs around 75 AFN on average with 57 AFN and 110 AFN being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

130 AFN

170 AFN

240 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.3

$3.2

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Herat is between 130 AFN and 240 AFN depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 170 AFN.

Pack of beef price

150 AFN

230 AFN

450 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$3.1

$6.2

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 230 AFN. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

61 AFN

83 AFN

120 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.83

$1.1

$1.6

A bag of rice in Herat costs around 83 AFN on average with prices rangeing between 61 AFN and 120 AFN depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

23 AFN

30 AFN

57 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.41

$0.77

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 23 AFN to 57 AFN. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

40 AFN

53 AFN

87 AFN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.55

$0.72

$1.2

A bag of apples costs 53 AFN on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Herat is around 28%. This means that families spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 34% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families