Which place is cheaper, Riga or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tehran or Riga?
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 Riga. 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $78Riga $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Riga 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $62Riga $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $124Riga $114
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Riga? 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.
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: Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.38Riga $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $484
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $457
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $425
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $341
- From Transfer to Tallinn with Turaida Museum Reserve: $229
- From Vilnius: One-Way Private Transfer to Riga: $181
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $149
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $137
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $130
- Riga Limo Airport Transfer: $130
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $104
- Paintball Adventure: Expert Guide & Transfers Included!: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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
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Food Meals for one dayTehran $14Riga $36
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Medieval Dinner on the 12th Century at Rozengrals: $119
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $138
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $151
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $4.59Riga $23
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Day Kurzeme Winery Tour: $202
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $40
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $180
- Boat:Cruises: $16
- City:canal:tour: $16
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
- Explore Riga's Art Nouveau District & Medical Museum Tour: $27
- Explore Riga's Old Town on a Bubbly Bike Tour: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Riga $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $15
- Riga Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience: $17
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $74
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $520
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,304
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Riga, we can see that Riga 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 Riga is in Europe, 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Riga?
Tehran has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Riga, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.