Which place is cheaper, Chiang Rai or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tehran or Chiang Rai?
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 Chiang Rai. 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 Chiang Rai?
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.
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $78Chiang Rai $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Chiang Rai is $39. 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 Chiang Rai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $62Chiang Rai $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $124Chiang Rai $34
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Chiang Rai
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Chiang Rai? 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.
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: Chiang Rai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.38Chiang Rai $3.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Khong Border Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $159
- SUV Private car Chiang Mai transfer to/from Chiang Rai: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Saen Border: $141
- Private Transfer From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $122
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Rai: $119
- Private Transfer from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $83
- Chiang Rai Airport: Transfer To Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai: $77
- Private Transfer Chiang Rai Airport to and from Mueang Chiang Rai: $41
- Chiang Rai Airport (CEI): Private Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer: $32
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Rai: $22
- Private Airport (CEI) Transfer to Hotel: $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chiang Rai International Airport to Hotel: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Chiang Rai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Rai 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
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Food Meals for one dayTehran $14Chiang Rai $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $47
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $50
- Chiang Rai Private Cooking Class - Cooking With Ann: $57
- Jungle Adventure-Group Trekking & Bamboo Cooking: $68
- Chiang Rai by Night with Show, Dinner and Trishaw Ride: $82
- Chiang Rai City Tour with Dinner and Show: $86
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $4.59Chiang Rai $7.38
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $31
- 4 Days Mae Hong Son Loop Motorcycle Tour from Chiang Mai: $1,406
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai including Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $153
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $132
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $125
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $89
- Chiang Rai City and Temples Tour: $67
- Chiang Rai Food & Night Market Walking Tour with Local Host: $71
- Chiang Rai Food & Night Market Walking Tour with Local Host: $57
- Chiang Rai Food & Night Market Walking Tour with Local Host: $57
- Chiang Rai Night Tour by TUK TUK: $57
- Chiang Rai Private Tour From Chiang Mai: $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Chiang Rai $8.32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Chiang Rai, we can see that Tehran is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Chiang Rai 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 Chiang Rai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Rai 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 Chiang Rai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Chiang Rai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Chiang Rai?
Tehran has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Chiang Rai, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.