A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tehran vs. Bodh Gaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tehran or Bodh Gaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and Bodh Gaya. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Tehran or Bodh Gaya?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

Bodh Gaya

Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.

Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.

Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Tehran?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $52. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tehran and Bodh Gaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Bodh Gaya $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Bodh Gaya $44
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Bodh Gaya

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Bodh Gaya? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tehran


Hotels in Bodh Gaya


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Bodh Gaya $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya

Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Airport: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Bodh Gaya?

Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya and Tehran change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tehran $14
    Bodh Gaya $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Bodh Gaya $9.82

Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya

For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $34
  • Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $53
  • Exclusive Guided Tour of Bodh Gaya: $227
  • Excursion tour of Rajgir & Nalanda from Bodhgaya: $63
  • From Varanasi: Private Same Day Bodhgaya Tour: $144
  • Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $32
  • Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $39
  • Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
  • Private guided tour of Bodh Gaya over 2 days : $175
  • Spiritual, Bodhgaya Tour (01 Night / 02 Days): $336

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Bodh Gaya $5.64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Tehran is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Bodh Gaya is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bodh Gaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodh Gaya and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tehran would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tehran than you might in Bodh Gaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Bodh Gaya Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Bodh Gaya?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Bodh Gaya, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.