Which place is cheaper, Tokyo or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tehran or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo. 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Tehran Prices
Iran PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $2.72Tokyo $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $2.72, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $177. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $1.91Tokyo $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $3.82Tokyo $148
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Tokyo? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.01Tokyo $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Nagano: $805
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Hakone: $426
- Shuttle Van Tour Tokyo for 4 Hours or 6 Hours+Transfer Time: $368
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Tachikawa City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $295
- Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND by Sedan Car: $288
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $288
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $288
- Tokyo 5-Hour Private Charter with NRT/HND Airport Transfer: $275
- Airport Transfer: Tokyo City to Narita Airport NRT by Luxury Van: $271
- Guided Glassblowing Workshop with Train Transfer: $271
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $0.75Tokyo $62
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.03
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.03
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Meal at Airport$6.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Shibuya 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $39
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $45
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $48
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Traditional Matcha Making Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $0.14Tokyo $66
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $64
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $161
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $258
- 1 Day Private Charter Tokyo Tour (Green Number Plates): $50
- 1 Day Tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo: $189
- 1 Day Tour to Oshino Hakkai Ole Hot Spring in Mount Fuji: $77
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa Traditional Tokyo and Nature: $128
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Mt.Fuji Hiking Tour(Subashiri 5th to 7th) from Tokyo: $101
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $125
- 100% PRIVATE Anime, Manga, Game & Pop Culture Tour in Akihabara: $99
- 100% Tailored Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Tokyo $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $90
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $103
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $103
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $103
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $109
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $122
- Chiba Nabedana Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Tehran. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Tokyo, 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.