Because Iran is at the moment cut off from the global banking system, if you visit the country you will need to bring all your money in cash -most likely in Euro or USD, because it's hard to buy Rial outside of Iran. For this reason, and although it is always useful to have an idea of costs beforehand, when planning a trip to Iran you need to know more or less how much you will need. Hence I have created this page with sample costs of my trip to Iran. I will quote prices in Rial (IRR), but please note that in Iran people speak about Tomans (1 Toman = IRR 10.000) to simplify things. To convert to Euro, I will consider the current market exchange rate (1 EUR = IRR 32.500).
For the record, in the entire 2 weeks that I was there I spent only about EUR 380. This figure includes food, 3 nights of hotel, one private tour, entrance to attractions and transport costs (the generosity and kindness of Iranians was such that it was often difficult to spend my own money!).
Getting there
Round trip Berlin-Tehran with Germania: EUR 175
Transport costs in cities
Taxi from Tehran Khomeini International Airport to city centre: IRR 600.000 (EUR 18.5)
Tehran Metro ride: depends on distance, between IRR 2000 - 3000 (EUR 0.06 - 0.1)
Short taxi ride (less than 5 km): you should be able to negotiate IRR 70.000 to 100.000 (2 to 3 EUR), otherwise you might be ripped off.
Intercity travel costs
Bus Tehran-Kashan (3 hrs): IRR 135.000 (EUR 4.5)
Bus Esfahan-Yazd (5 hrs): IRR 220.000 (EUR 7)
Bus Yazd-Shiraz (5 hrs): IRR 190.000 (EUR 6)
Flight Shiraz-Tehran (one way): 1.651.000 (EUR 51)
Food costs
I generally ate in mid-range restaurants with menus in English so you can probably go lower.
In Tehran: IRR 100.000 - 250.000 for main course (EUR 3 - 8)
Outside Tehran: IRR 60.000 - 150.000 for main course (EUR 2 - 5)
Ice cream: IRR 50.000 (EUR 1.5)
Water, soft drinks: IRR 10.000 to 30.000 (EUR 0.3 to 1)
Accommodation:
Dorm bed in Kashan (Ehsan House), w/breakfast: IRR 500.000 (EUR 15)
Dorm bed in Yazd (Silk Route Hotel), w/breakfast: IRR 150.000 (EUR 4.6)
Sightseeing
Usually the price for foreigners is 7.5 times the price for locals!
Golestan Palace: IRR 100.000 (abt EUR 3) plus individual museums cost IRR 50.000 (EUR 1.5)
National Museum: IRR 200.000 (abt EUR 6)
Most museums cost between IRR 50.000 and 100.000 (EUR 1.5 to 3) for foreigners
Tours
Guide/Driver and car for 1 day (incl. gasoline): IRR 1.600.000 (EUR 49)
I used this service to get from Kashan to Esfahan via the Fin Garden, Abiyaneh and Natanz (8 hrs)
Other costs
Haircut: IRR 100.000 (EUR 3)
Water bottle: IRR 10.000 (EUR 0.3)
I think that if you stay in budget accommodation and eat in mid-range places you can travel very cheaply around Iran (less than EUR 30 per day). If you stay with Iranians of course you can go even lower. But you have to keep your wits about yourself because some Iranians who are used to selling stuff to tourists may try to charge you more than they should.
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