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

Should you visit Tehran or Chennai?

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 Chennai. 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 Chennai?

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.

Chennai

Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Chennai 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 Chennai is $29. 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 Chennai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Chennai $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Chennai $30
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Chennai

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Chennai? 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 Chennai


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: Chennai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Chennai $2.61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai

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

  • Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
  • Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
  • Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
  • Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
  • Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
  • Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
  • Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Chennai?

Prices for flights to both Chennai 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
    Chennai $6.40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai

For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
  • Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
  • Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
  • South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
  • South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
  • Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
  • Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
  • Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Chennai $2.77

Tours and Activities in Chennai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.

  • St Thomas Mount Tour Chennai: $85
  • Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai: $44
  • Best Of Chennai- Classic Tour on Royal Enfield Motorcycle: $160
  • Chennai Delights: Exploring the Best of the City Tour: $198
  • Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
  • Chennai Full Day Guided Tour in a Private Car: $120
  • Chennai Full Day Sightseeing in a Private Car: $70
  • Chennai Half Day Guided Tour in a Private Car: $100
  • Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
  • Chennai Shore Excursion - Full Day Private Chennai Guided Tour: $80
  • Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Chennai $3.08


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Chennai, we can see that Tehran is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Chennai 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 Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Chennai.

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Chennai?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 65% larger than the population of Chennai. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Chennai, 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.