Iran operates on a dual-pricing system affecting every category of travel expense. The official Iranian rial exchange rate differs substantially from the parallel market rate used by exchange offices and street changers. As of late 2024, the official rate stands near 42,000 rials per US dollar while the parallel market fluctuates between 500,000 and 650,000 rials per dollar. Travelers using ATMs connected to Iranian banks receive the official rate. Those exchanging cash through licensed exchange offices or hotels access rates closer to the parallel market. This differential creates price variations of 1,000 to 1,500 percent on the same goods and services depending on payment method. International sanctions prevent standard credit cards, debit cards, and payment platforms including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and TransferWise from functioning inside Iran. Travelers must bring physical currency in US dollars, euros, or UAE dirhams. The Iranian government periodically adjusts official rates and enforcement of exchange regulations. Prices stated below reflect 2024 parallel market rates unless specified otherwise.
Accommodation costs divide along lines that rarely correlate with Western hotel categories. Budget guesthouses in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz charge 800,000 to 1,500,000 rials per night for basic rooms with shared bathrooms. Mid-range hotels offering private bathrooms and breakfast range from 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 rials. International-standard hotels in Tehran including the Espinas Palace Hotel and Parsian Azadi Hotel charge 12,000,000 to 25,000,000 rials. Traditional courtyard houses converted to guesthouses, common in Yazd and Kashan, cost 1,800,000 to 4,000,000 rials. Homestays arranged through platforms still operating in Iran charge 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 rials including meals. Mashhad hotel prices increase 200 to 300 percent during religious holidays when pilgrims visit the Imam Reza Shrine. Kish Island and Qeshm Island resort hotels charge 8,000,000 to 18,000,000 rials during peak season from November through March. Camping is permitted in designated areas of Golestan National Park and Alamut Valley at costs below 500,000 rials per person. Seasonal variation affects prices in mountain regions near Mount Damavand where ski season from December to March doubles rates. Yazd guesthouses often include rooftop sleeping areas during summer months at 600,000 to 900,000 rials per night.
Food expenses vary by restaurant type and payment method. Street food including fresh lavash bread costs 100,000 to 200,000 rials. Kebab stands serving kabab koobideh with rice charge 800,000 to 1,200,000 rials per portion. Traditional restaurants in Isfahan and Shiraz price full meals with chelow kabab, doogh, and salad at 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 rials. Higher-end restaurants in northern Tehran neighborhoods charge 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 rials for similar meals. Dizi served in traditional dizi houses costs 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 rials. Breakfast spreads with flatbread, cheese, walnuts, honey, and chai run 500,000 to 900,000 rials. Faloodeh from vendors in Shiraz costs 300,000 to 500,000 rials per serving. Sohan purchased directly from producers in Qom costs 800,000 to 1,200,000 rials per kilogram. Gaz from Isfahan confectioneries ranges from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 rials per kilogram depending on pistachio content. Supermarket prices for staples remain low with rice at 150,000 to 250,000 rials per kilogram and yogurt at 200,000 to 350,000 rials per kilogram. Imported goods carry premiums of 300 to 500 percent over domestic equivalents. Fresh produce in bazaars costs substantially less than in grocery stores. Saffron prices vary from 3,000,000 to 8,000,000 rials per gram based on grade.
Transportation within cities costs a fraction of accommodation and food. Tehran metro single-journey tickets cost 40,000 rials. Multi-journey cards offering ten trips sell for 350,000 rials. Shared taxis operating on fixed routes through Tehran charge 100,000 to 200,000 rials per person per segment. Private taxis within central Tehran districts cost 500,000 to 1,000,000 rials for trips under five kilometers. Ride-hailing applications including Snapp and Tap30 function within Iranian cities at prices 20 to 30 percent below traditional taxis. A Snapp ride from central Isfahan to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square from nearby hotels costs 200,000 to 400,000 rials. Bus networks in major cities charge 30,000 to 60,000 rials per journey. Bicycle rentals in Isfahan cost 300,000 to 500,000 rials per day from shops near the Si-o-se-pol bridge. Intercity buses operated by companies including Iran Peyma and TBT run between Tehran and Isfahan for 800,000 to 1,200,000 rials in standard class and 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 rials in VIP class with wider seats and fewer stops. Tehran to Shiraz buses cost 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 rials for the 900-kilometer journey lasting 12 to 14 hours. Trains connect major cities at similar or lower prices than buses but with longer journey times. Tehran to Mashhad overnight trains cost 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 rials depending on class with six-berth compartments at the lower end and two-berth sleepers at the upper range.
Domestic flights offer time savings at moderate cost increases over ground transport. Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Qeshm Air operate frequent services between major cities. Tehran to Isfahan flights cost 3,500,000 to 5,500,000 rials for the one-hour journey. Tehran to Shiraz routes run 4,000,000 to 6,500,000 rials. Tehran to Mashhad, the busiest domestic route in Iran, ranges from 5,000,000 to 9,000,000 rials depending on booking timing and airline. Flights to Kish Island and Qeshm Island from Tehran cost 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 rials. Booking through Iranian travel agencies rather than airline websites often yields lower prices. Baggage allowances vary by airline with Iran Air permitting 20 kilograms on domestic routes and Mahan Air allowing 30 kilograms. Fuel subsidies keep domestic flight prices substantially below international equivalents. Flight delays occur frequently with mechanical issues and scheduling changes affecting 30 to 40 percent of departures according to passenger reports. Alternative airports including Mehrabad in Tehran and smaller regional airports sometimes offer lower fares than primary international airports.
Hiring private drivers for multi-day tours represents a common transportation choice eliminating intercity travel logistics. Private driver rates for a vehicle accommodating four passengers cost 25,000,000 to 40,000,000 rials per day including fuel but excluding driver accommodation and meals. The 14-day circuit covering Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, and return typically costs 350,000,000 to 560,000,000 rials total for the vehicle. English-speaking drivers charge premiums of 30 to 50 percent over Farsi-only drivers. Fuel costs remain minimal due to government subsidies with gasoline priced at 15,000 to 30,000 rials per liter. Vehicle rental without driver is possible for foreigners holding international driving permits but requires substantial deposits of 300,000,000 to 500,000,000 rials. Insurance coverage for rental vehicles excludes many incident types and collision damage waiver adds 50 to 70 percent to rental rates. Road conditions vary from modern highways between major cities to deteriorating rural roads in mountainous areas.