Tehran Families Ration Meat Amid Inflation

Central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati described the economic strain on Iranian families as a heavy burden on October 23. He stated that international efforts to isolate the country’s economy had not met their primary goals, yet the cost of living continues to climb for residents.

Food costs have surged to levels that force difficult choices for most households. Factnameh, a fact-checking group based in Canada, calculated that a basket of 11 essential food items costs 56 million rials per person in September. For a family of three, that total reaches 168 million rials, which is approximately 61.70 dollars. The government provides a food voucher worth 10 million rials, but that amount now covers less than 18 percent of the per-person cost. In December 2025, the voucher covered about 30 percent of the bill.

Households are changing how they shop and what they eat. A survey by Radio Farda in central Tehran found that many families now reserve meat and chicken for children who are still growing. Adult members of those families often eat legumes or meat substitutes instead. One woman said her family fears that further price increases will force them to remove meat from the children’s meals entirely. Cooking at home has also become more expensive. A plate of ghormeh sabzi, a traditional herb stew served with rice, now costs about 23 million rials. Potato patties known as kookoo sib zamini cost around 4 million rials.

The financial pressure has widened since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. That conflict damaged infrastructure and disrupted trade. A US naval blockade reduced oil exports and imports, while Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz hindered shipping. In August, the US Treasury started a new sanctions campaign called Economic D-Day to further isolate Tehran financially. Annual inflation hit 89.9 percent in September, and the average monthly wage is estimated at 100 dollars.

Even those with above-average incomes feel the squeeze. A middle-aged man in western Tehran earns 1 billion rials a month from his salary and rental income. That is well above the average monthly household income in Tehran, which is about 600 million rials. He said he can cover his current expenses but has no savings for the future. He has stopped traveling, dining out, and saving money. A 28-year-old woman earning 400 million rials a month said she now splits one dish with a friend when they go out to eat. She said sharing meals is the only way she can afford to socialize.

A retired woman living on a monthly pension of 180 million rials has cut back on protein since March. She worries about her health but notes she does not pay rent. Her situation contrasts with that of a newly married woman who works two shifts to repay a loan. That woman said her family used the money saved for a wedding celebration for a housing deposit instead. She described her home as a place where she and her husband simply sleep, noting that they feel poorer every morning.

The rise in costs has replaced normal activities for the middle class. Savings, travel, and restaurant visits have largely disappeared from the routines of many Tehran residents. The combination of sanctions, inflation, and the fall of the rial has made basic necessities harder to afford.