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

Should you visit Tehran or Surabaya?

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 Surabaya. 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 Surabaya?

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.

Surabaya

Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Surabaya 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 Surabaya is $63. 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 Surabaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Surabaya $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Surabaya $74
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Surabaya

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Surabaya? 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 Surabaya


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: Surabaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Surabaya $2.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $210
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Malang: $168
  • Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $168
  • Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $134
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bangkalan: $134
  • Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $93
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gresik: $93
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
  • Private Transfer from Manyar to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gempol: $50
  • Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Surabaya?

Prices for flights to both Surabaya 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
    Surabaya $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Surabaya $4.74

Tours and Activities in Surabaya

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

  • 1 Day Bromo Private Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $118
  • 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $98
  • 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
  • 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
  • 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
  • 3 Days - Mt Bromo & Ijen Experience from Surabaya or Malang: $263
  • 3 Days Bromo Ijen Tour From Surabaya: $170
  • 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang (Hotel Stay): $265

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Surabaya -


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Surabaya?

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