Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tehran or Seoul?
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 Seoul. 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 Seoul?
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.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Tehran Prices
Iran PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $2.72Seoul $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $2.72, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $117. 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 Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $1.91Seoul $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $3.82Seoul $98
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Seoul? 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: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.01Seoul $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.28
-
Short Taxi Ride$4.59
-
Metro Ride$0.88
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$6.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $126
- Lotte World 1Day Pass+Obesrvatoy+Private round transfer(Seoul): $115
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Private Transfer Incheon Airport Seoul Korea: $110
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon to/from Seoul (up to 7 pax): $98
- Incheon International Airport (ICN): Private Seoul Transfer: $95
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul 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 dayTehran $0.75Seoul $47
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$3.93
-
Waffle$0.66
-
Dippin' Dots$1.31
-
Chicken Fried Rice$3.60
-
Chicken Stick$1.31
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.24
-
Lunch Buffet$3.93
-
Donut$0.66
-
Mushroom Burger$3.41
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.16
-
Udon & Sushi$4.59
-
Fresh Burger$3.14
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$2.95
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.28
-
Fried Rice$3.60
-
Vietnamese Dinner$6.22
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.22
-
Donut$1.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Street Food Tour in Jongno, Heart of Seoul: $57
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Hidden Market Food Tour with 12+ Tasters & Drinking Games: $58
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $58
- Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Explore Seoul's Flavors on Group Cooking Class Adventure: $63
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $0.14Seoul $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$5.24
-
Movie Ticket$5.24
-
Kimchi Museum$1.97
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $260
- (Private tour) Seoul highlights; Gangnam and beyond Tour: $300
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2026 ARMY Seasonal Special: Follow Idol Journey Day Tour fr Seoul: $72
- 2026 BTS Army Fan Day Tour from Seoul (Follow K-Pop Footsteps): $72
- 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $45
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- 365-day DMZ Tour : Signature or Special Flex-Itinerary Edition: $59
- A Complete Korean Table Experience with Hanok View: $130
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Seoul $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Seoul Pub Crawl Official: $22
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs: $41
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $80
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Seoul, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Tehran. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Seoul, 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.