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

Should you visit Tehran or Khao Lak?

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 Khao Lak. 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 Khao Lak?

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.

Khao Lak

Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak is $112. 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 Khao Lak in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Khao Lak $51
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Khao Lak $102
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Khao Lak

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Khao Lak? 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 Khao Lak


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: Khao Lak Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Khao Lak $52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:

  • Similan Island Snorkeling Adventure -Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $119
  • Krabi Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khaolak: $111
  • From Carnival Magic Phuket Ticket with Transfer: $106
  • Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $100
  • Khao Lak To Khao Sok Private Minivan & Car Transfer: $56
  • 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $55
  • Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $44
  • 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $42
  • Khao Lak/Bang Sak: 1-Way Private Transfer to Phuket Airport: $41
  • Phuket: Private One-Way Transfer to/from Khao Lak by Car: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Khao Lak?

Prices for flights to both Khao Lak 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
    Khao Lak $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak

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

  • Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour by Pakinnaka School: $56
  • Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $57
  • Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour.: $59
  • Thai Cooking Class in a Garden with Transfer: $59
  • Thai Cooking Class in Khaolak: $61
  • 3 hours Khao Lak Cooking Class and Market Visit: $68
  • Half-Day Cooking Class and Ingredient Hunt: $68
  • 3-Hour Khaolak Cooking Class with Food Market Visit: $69
  • Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $89
  • Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class and Waterfall Tour: $97
  • ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $97
  • Thai Food Cooking Class & ATV Adventure Tour: $97

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

Tours and Activities in Khao Lak

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

  • 2 Hours-Early Bird Guide Tour in Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary: $68
  • 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $53
  • 30-Minutes ATV Quads and Waterfall Experience in Khaolak : $55
  • 4 hours Tour with Khaolak ATV Quad Bike and Rescued Elephant: $97
  • Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
  • Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
  • Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $37
  • Cheow Lan Lake: 2-Day Guided Tour with Meals and Activities: $176
  • Day Tour with Sea Canoeing at Hong Island from Khao Lak: $81
  • Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Adventure From Khao Lak: $112
  • Eco Grand Canyon with Hot Springs and Elephant Retreat Tour: $97
  • From Khao Lak Or Khok Kloi : Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip with Lunch: $103

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Khao Lak $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Khao Lak, we can see that Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak 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 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 Khao Lak would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Khao Lak?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 4210 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Khao Lak, 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.

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