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

Should you visit Tehran or Phuket?

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 Phuket. 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 Phuket?

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.

Phuket

Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Phuket 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 Phuket is $105. 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 Phuket in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Phuket $56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Phuket $112
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Phuket

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Phuket? 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 Phuket


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: Phuket Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Phuket $11

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket

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


  • Longtail Taxi (for Two)
    $8.18
  • Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town
    $6.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:

  • From Krabi: Phuket Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
  • From Krabi Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
  • Phuket Jet Ski Tour to 7 Islands with Pickup and Transfer: $212
  • Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $149
  • ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $139
  • Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi: $137
  • Morning Blue Sky Spa Package with Private Transfer: $125
  • Full Day Guided Banana Beach Paradise Trip With Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $123
  • Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $117
  • ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $116
  • Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing: $113
  • Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms With Lunch & Transfer RoundTrips: $108

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Phuket?

Prices for flights to both Phuket 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
    Phuket $22

Typical Food Prices in Phuket

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:


  • Casual Dinner (for Two)
    $7.88
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.64
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $12
  • Thai Noodles
    $2.45
  • Bananas
    $0.68
  • Pizza (for Two)
    $8.18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket

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

  • Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
  • Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
  • Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
  • Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
  • Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
  • Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
  • Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
  • Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
  • Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
  • Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
  • Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
  • Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Phuket $42

Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket

Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • One Day Boat Tour
    $25
  • Scuba Diving (Two Dives)
    $68
  • Thai Oil Massage
    $17
  • Surfboard Rental
    $8.18

Tours and Activities in Phuket

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

  • 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
  • Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
  • Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $218
  • James Bond Island Highlights Tour from Phuket with Lunch: $115
  • Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
  • Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
  • Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $118
  • Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
  • 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
  • 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
  • 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
  • 4 Waters Eco Adventure: $96

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Phuket $6.35

Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket

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


  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $5.46
  • Beer
    $2.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket

Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
  • Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
  • Pub Crawl Tour: $25
  • Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $77
  • Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
  • Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
  • Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213


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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Phuket?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Phuket, 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.