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

Should you visit Tehran or Nairobi?

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 Nairobi. 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 Nairobi?

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.

Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Nairobi 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 Nairobi is $61. 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 Nairobi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Nairobi $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Nairobi $22
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Nairobi

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Nairobi? 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 Nairobi


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: Nairobi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.39
    Nairobi $10

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

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

  • From 7-Day Kenya Safari Trip with Meals & Transfer: $1,800
  • Nairobi Airport: 1-Way Transfer to Maasai Mara Reserve: $495
  • Nairobi Airport: 1-Way Transfer to Maasai Mara Reserve: $495
  • Transport from Nairobi transfer Masai Mara gates Sekekani Talek: $250
  • Mercedes Viano Private Transfer Luxury Comfort Nairobi : $250
  • Private Sightseeing Tour in Lake Nakuru with Transfer Included: $189
  • Private Transfers from Nairobi Airport to Hotels: $170
  • Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
  • Private Departure Transfer in Nairobi: $115
  • Nairobi Airports Private Transfers: $100
  • Nairobi National Park Game Drive and Transfer: $85
  • Private Transfer from Nairobi to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Nairobi?

Prices for flights to both Nairobi 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
    Nairobi $7.35

Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for Two
    $4.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi

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

  • Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
  • Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience.: $32
  • Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Dinner and Pub Crawling.: $47
  • Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $48
  • Enjoy Traditional Kenyan Food Cooking Class With a Host.: $54
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
  • Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $55
  • Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
  • Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
  • Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
  • Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
  • Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Nairobi $45

Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Village Visit
    $15

Tours and Activities in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Amboseli Day tour from Nairobi Private tour: $290
  • Day Tour Amboseli Park From Nairobi: $180
  • Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour: $95
  • Half day tour to Elephant orphanage & Giraffe Centre Nairobi: $95
  • Nairobi National Park Group Joining Daily Tour: $138
  • Nairobi park Tour 6.A.M-11.AM: $70
  • Private Full Day Safari Adventure at Nairobi National Park : $250
  • The 42 Stories -Kenya Culture and Walk Experience with a Local: $36
  • half Day TOURS/NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK/ELEPHANT & GIRAFFE CENTRE: $90
  • "Nairobi's Ultimate Wildlife & Cultural Adventure: $40
  • (Free Pickup) Nairobi National Park Game Drive-Half Day Tour: $44
  • 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Nairobi $15


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Nairobi?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Nairobi, 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.