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

Should you visit Tehran or Bucharest?

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 Bucharest. 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 Bucharest?

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.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania.


Which place is cheaper, Bucharest 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 Bucharest is $140. 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 Bucharest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Bucharest $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Bucharest $128
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Bucharest

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Bucharest? 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 Bucharest


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: Bucharest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.39
    Bucharest $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Bucharest to Sofia - Private Transfer: $587
  • Bucharest to Sofia Private Transfer: $455
  • Bucharest to Mihail Kogalniceanu - Private Transfer: $348
  • Mihail Kogalniceanu to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $348
  • Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo - Private Transfer: $326
  • Bucharest to Fetesti - Private Transfer: $326
  • Bucharest to Craiova - Private Transfer: $304
  • Transfer From Bucharest Airport To Sofia Bulgaria: $294
  • Transfer Bucharest Airport to Brasov: $292
  • Bucharest to Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport Constanta - Private Guided Transfer : $286
  • Bucharest (Romania) to Veliko Tarnavo (Bulgaria) - Private Guided Transfer : $286
  • Bucharest to Tulcea - Private Guided Transfer - Driver and Car : $286

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Bucharest?

Prices for flights to both Bucharest 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
    Bucharest $59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.

  • Dinner at the Museum of Communism - Traditional Food Tour: $54
  • Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Walking Food Tour: $61
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $67
  • Bucharest Historical Food Tour in Old Center: $72
  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $73
  • Mystical beliefs, traditions & history - Walking Food Tour: $83
  • Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $130
  • Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $142
  • Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest: $184
  • 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $205

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Bucharest $15

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bears Sanctuary, Dracula's Castle, Brasov Day Trip Private Tour from Bucharest: $252
  • Bucharest Panoramic Sightseeing - Private City Tour: $94
  • Transylvania Heritage Tour at Peles Bran and Cantacuzino Castles: $94
  • 1 Day 4x4 Tour in Carpathian Mountains: $175
  • 1 Day ATV Tour in Carpathian Mountains: $209
  • 10h Bucharest City Tour & Snagov Monastery (Dracula's Grave): $261
  • 14 Days Private Tour in Romania, Moldova & Transnistria: $4,783
  • 2 Days Private Tour - The Romanian Caves from Bucharest: $528
  • 2 Hour Photoshoot Experience Near Bucharest Architectural Charms: $99
  • 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Bucharest City: $71
  • 2-Day Medieval Transylvania with Brasov,Sibiu and Sighisoara Tour from Bucharest: $253
  • 2-Day Small-Group Tour to Dracula's Castle, Rasnov Fortress, Peles Castle, Sighisoara and Libearty Brown Bear Sanctuary with Overnight in Brasov: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Bucharest $9.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Weekend Pub Crawl: $24
  • Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
  • Pub Crawl Bucuresti Experientã de top în Bucuresti: $33
  • Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $38
  • Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $43
  • Private Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $43
  • Bar Crawling: $44
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $44
  • Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $45
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $48
  • Private Romanian Wine Tasting in UrlaČ›i: $52
  • Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Bucharest, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Bucharest is in Europe, 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Tehran.

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Bucharest?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Bucharest, 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.