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

Should you visit Tehran or Koh Tao?

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 Koh Tao. 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 Koh Tao?

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.

Koh Tao

With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.

This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.

Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao is $37. 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 Koh Tao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Koh Tao $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Koh Tao

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao


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: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Koh Tao $8.67

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $5.18
  • Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
    $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Koh Tao?

Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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
    Koh Tao $9.21

Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Sit Down Lunch (for One)
    $5.46
  • Breakfast
    $4.09
  • Casual Breakfast (for Two)
    $3.27
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $13
  • Pancake
    $1.91
  • American Breakfast (for Two)
    $7.64
  • Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
    $7.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Koh Tao $26

Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    $6.82
  • Snorkel Rental
    $2.73
  • Kayak and Snorkel (2)
    $2.73

Tours and Activities in Koh Tao

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

  • 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
  • Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
  • Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
  • Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
  • Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
  • Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
  • Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
  • Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
  • Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
  • Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
  • Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Koh Tao $7.14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.77
  • Bottle of Wine
    $10


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Koh Tao?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 5180 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Koh Tao, 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.