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

Should you visit Tehran or Dubai?

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 Dubai. 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 Dubai?

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.

Dubai

Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.


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For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates.


Which place is cheaper, Dubai or Tehran?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Tehran Prices
    Iran Prices
    Dubai Prices
    UAE Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Tehran $89
    Dubai $289

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $89, while the average daily cost in Dubai is $289. 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 Dubai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Dubai $170
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Dubai $340
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Dubai

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Dubai? 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 Dubai


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: Dubai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Dubai $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $12
  • Airport Taxi
    $12
  • Sea Taxi
    $0.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai

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

  • Atlantis Aquaventure Entry Ticket With Transfers: $768
  • From Private Van Transfer in Maybach: $735
  • Burj Khalifa: Skip-the-Line Entry, Gourmet Meal, & Transfer: $719
  • Guided Abu Dhabi City Tour Private Transfer: $300
  • Hot Air Balloon Flight with 4X4 Transfers: $299
  • Jet Car Ride for 2 Pax with Optional Transfer: $299
  • Hot Air Balloon with 60 Minutes Balloon Ride with Transfers: $299
  • Al Rafisah Dam Tour near Dubai with Private Transfers : $295
  • Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Adventure with Transfers Options: $293
  • Helicopter Dubai City Tour at Palm with Transfers Options: $288
  • Dubai Desert Dune Buggy with Private transfer: $285
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour with Yas Island 2 Park Access with Transfers: $285

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Dubai?

Prices for flights to both Dubai 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 $24
    Dubai $96

Typical Food Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:


  • French bread
    $0.95
  • Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice
    $10
  • Lemon Mint Tea
    $4.36
  • Coffee & Cake
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $5.45
  • Shawarma
    $1.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai

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

  • Al-Seef Premium Dinner Cruise: $12
  • Dhow Cruise with Dinner at Dubai Al Seef: $14
  • Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
  • Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $15
  • Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
  • Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
  • Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Waterfront Dubai: $17
  • Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Dubai: $17
  • Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour: $17
  • Deira Creek: Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
  • Desert Safari With Camel Ride and Dinner: $19
  • Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Dubai $19

Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Visit to the Dubai Museum
    $0.82

Tours and Activities in Dubai

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

  • 4 hours Night Yacht Party Tour at Dubai Harbour for Adults : $120
  • 570 cc Quad Bike+Sand Boarding+ Camel Ride- Private Experience: $200
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Ticket : $160
  • Abu Dhabi City Tour with Pick up: $79
  • Abu Dhabi Day Tour with Qasr al Watan: $53
  • Abu Dhabi Private tour with professional drive : $289
  • Burj Khalifa Observation Deck Dubai Admission Ticket : $72
  • Burj Khalifa Tour - Top Sky Ticket 124, 125 & 148 Floor Level Access : $165
  • Classical Dubai Highlights City Tour : $44
  • Desert Adventure with ATV and Camel Ride and Live Shows: $100
  • Desert Safari, City Tour & Dhow Cruise in Marina Enjoy In Dubai: $110
  • Dibba Full Day Cruise Trip: $191

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Dubai $23

Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:


  • A Couple Drinks
    $25

Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:

  • Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $54
  • Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $59
  • Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Dubai, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Dubai?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Dubai, 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.