Which place is cheaper, Tbilisi or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tehran or Tbilisi?
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 Tbilisi. 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 Tbilisi?
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.
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital of the country of Georgia. Its cobblestoned old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures. Looming over it all are Narikala, a reconstructed 4th-century fortress, and Kartlis Deda, an iconic statue of the "Mother of Georgia." Tbilisi’s eternal charms of a dramatic setting in the deep valley of the swift Mtkvari River, picturesque architecture, an ever-lively arts and cultural scene, and the welcoming Georgian lifestyle have been added a whole new 21st-century dimension of inviting cafes and restaurants serving ever better food, up-to-date lodgings from backpacker hostels to international five-stars, interesting bars and clubs, spruced-up museums, galleries, parks, plazas and whole streets, modernized transport and a sprinkling of eye-catching contemporary architecture. The mix of modern and ancient elements makes Tbilisi the beating heart of the South Caucasus and it is well worth a visit.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $78Tbilisi $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Tbilisi is $29. 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 Tbilisi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $62Tbilisi $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $124Tbilisi $26
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Tbilisi
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Tbilisi? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.38Tbilisi $6.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tbilisi
Also for Tbilisi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer: Yerevan-Tbilisi: $245
- From Tbilisi:Private Transfer service To Batumi: $240
- 4 Days Private Tour in Georgia With Free Airport Transfers: $237
- Tbilisi-Batumi Private Transfer: $220
- Transfer from the airport, railway and bus station in Tbilisi : $200
- Tbilisi - Yerevan Private Transfer: $179
- Private Transfer from Tbilisi to Gudauri : $177
- Transfer from Tbilisi to Yerevan whith tour.: $175
- Transfer Georgia To Armenia With Tour: $170
- 3-Day Tbilisi & Mtskheta Discovery + Airport Transfers: $159
- Tbilisi to Batumi Private Transfer : $155
- Private Transfer: From Tbilisi to Gudauri Ski Resort: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Tbilisi?
Prices for flights to both Tbilisi 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 $14Tbilisi $8.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tbilisi
For Tbilisi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Natural Wine Degustation and Tasting with Georgian Dinner Option: $20
- Georgian Cooking Class with Khinkali and Khachapuri: $25
- Middle East Evening with Live Singers and Dinner in Tbilisi: $40
- Adjarian Khachapuri Making Private Virtual Cooking Class: $40
- Traveling Spoon Georgian Dumplings Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Cooking Class with a Local Family: $49
- Tbilisi Street Food Tour: $70
- Tbilisi Street Food Tour: $72
- Taste of Georgia. Cooking-Class Khinkali, Khachapuri and more: $75
- Vegetarian Georgian Cooking Class: $78
- Food Tour with 9 Tastings and Wine: $88
- Full Day Tbilisi Tour with Cooking Class & Wine Tasting Activity: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $4.59Tbilisi $15
Tours and Activities in Tbilisi
For Tbilisi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Borjomi city tour,Тур по Городу Боржоми: $70
- Full Day Private Tour in Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi with Guide: $90
- Kakheti One Day Tour: $17
- Mtskheta One Day Tour: $58
- Vardzia - Rabati - Borjomi · Full Day Private Tour · Trending Georgia: $83
- 'Uplistsikhe'-Borjomi 1 Day Tour: $50
- "Tbilisi to Borjomi Rabati Vardzia:Full-Day GuidedGroupTour: $38
- "Tbilisi to Kazbegi, Gudauri, Ananuri Group Guided Tour": $16
- "Bodbe,Signaghi,Telavi:GuidedTour FreeWineTasting: $15
- 002 | Kakheti Wine Region Full Day Tour -Group: $25
- 1 Day Guided Express Shared Tour in Tbilisi in Georgia: $217
- 1 Day Kakheti Private Tour: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Tbilisi $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Tbilisi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tbilisi:
- 3 Hours Walk Around Wine Tasting of 12 Different Wines in Tbilisi: $10
- Tbilisi.First impression of Tbilisi-evening walking,wine tasting: $11
- One-day tour of Kakheti from Tbilisi, free wine tasting: $14
- Wine Tasting Feel the Difference of Qvevri or Classical Wine: $16
- Full Day Wine Tour Bodbe , Sighnaghi , Telavi: $16
- Kakheti Day Group Tour: Free Wine Tasting: $17
- Kakheti Wine Tour, Кахетия -Винный Тур: $19
- From Tbilisi:Kakheti-Sighnaghi&Chateau 7Wine Tasting Tour: $21
- Kakheti, Signaghi, & Chateau Tour with Wine Tasting: $21
- From Kakheti Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting: $24
- City Pub Crawl with welcome shots in game format: $24
- Tbilisi City Pub Crawl: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Tbilisi, we can see that Tehran is more expensive. And not only is Tbilisi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Tbilisi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Tbilisi?
Tehran has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Tbilisi. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Tbilisi, 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.