Essentials
- City
- Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
- Population
- Approx. 9,000,000 (Metropolitan: 15,000,000)
- Internet Speed
- Fixed: 15-25 Mbps, Mobile: 30-50 Mbps. Use of VPN (V2Ray/Shadowsocks) is mandatory for restricted sites.
- Currency & Banking
- Iranian Rial (IRR). Market rate: 1 USD ≈ 600,000 IRR (Toman is the 10x unit used in daily life).
- Tap Water
- Drinkable in most areas, but bottled water (e.g., Damavand, 15,000 IRR) is preferred by expats.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F Euro-style sockets
- SIM Card
- Irancell or Hamrah-e Aval. Approx. 500,000 IRR ($0.80) for 10GB data. Registration with passport required.
- Banking for Expats
- International cards (Visa/Mastercard) NOT accepted. Must use Mah Card or Daric Pay (prepaid debit cards for tourists).
- Accommodation
- Aparatment rentals via local agencies or SnappRoom. North Tehran is generally more expensive.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely high penetration of local POS terminals; snacks to taxis use cards.
- Short Term Rentals
- SnappRoom, Jajiga, or Homsa (Local alternatives to Airbnb). Prices: $30-$70/night.
- Budget Accommodation
- Heritage Hostel (Baharestan Metro). Approx. $10/night for a dorm bed.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ferdowsi/Central Tehran for proximity to palaces and the Grand Bazaar.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Vanak, Jordan (Nelson Mandela Blvd), or Elahieh for modern amenities and cafes.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Teh74 (Tehran, No. 74 Ghaem Magham St). Approx. 4,000,000 IRR ($7)/day.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Café Lamiz (Tajrish Branch). Fast local Wi-Fi and excellent coffee. Approx. 1,200,000 IRR for a latte.
- Networking Events
- Farda Startup events or sessions at Innovation Factory (Azadi Innovation Factory).
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Tehran group or hiking groups in Darband on Friday mornings.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Snapp or Tapsi. A 20-min ride costs approx. 800,000 IRR ($1.30).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bdood (Orange bikes). App-based; found mostly in central districts like Keshavarz Blvd.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Caspian Sea (Chalus/Ramsar), approx. 4-5 hours drive north through the Alborz mountains.
- Top Regional Airline
- Mahan Air or Iran Air.
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, or Emirates (connecting via Istanbul/Doha/Dubai).
- Highway Access
- Excellent connectivity via Modarres, Hemmat, and Niayesh Expressways.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tehran Railway Station (Rah Ahan Square) for trains; Yousef Abad Terminal for buses.
- Public Transport Passes
- Ez-Pay card (Tehran Metro/BRT). Cards cost 100,000 IRR; rides are ~15,000 IRR.
- Regional Travel
- VIP Buses (highly comfortable) to Isfahan or Shiraz. Approx. 2,500,000 IRR ($4).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Gandhi Hotel-Hospital or Milad Hospital. Private care is high quality and affordable for USD earners.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Nava Yoga Studio (Zafar district). Sessions approx. 2,000,000 IRR ($3.50).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxygen Royal (Velenjak). Premium facility; approx. $100/month for expats.
- Laundry Services
- Homa Laundry (Jordan St). Approx. 300,000 IRR per shirt.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- SnappFood. Large selection of Persian, Italian, and Burger spots.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Ghormeh Sabzi (Herb stew) or Chelow Kabab Koobideh at Sharaf El Islam.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ananda Vegetarian Restaurant (Pasdaran). Large garden and diverse menu.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mansour Ice Cream (Vanak) for traditional Saffron Bastani.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Tehran Grand Bazaar (15 Khordad) or Tajrish Bazaar.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Digikala (The Amazon of Iran). Delivery usually within 24 hours.
- Grocery Delivery
- Snapp Express or Okala. Delivery in under 45 minutes.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Alcohol is illegal. Nightlife consists of 'Mocktail' bars in Si-e Tir Street or late-night cafes in Darband.
- Local Brewery
- Non-alcoholic beer only. Try Delster or JoJo (popular malt drinks).
- Wine Bars
- None (illegal). Local 'Sharbat' cafes serve traditional flower-infused waters.
- Street Food Stalls
- Si-e Tir Street. Food trucks serving everything from Falafel to Kumpir.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bastani (Italian/Fusion) or Monsoon Lounge (Asian) in Jordan.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Azadi Tower, Golestan Palace (UNESCO), and Milad Tower.
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum of Iran and the Museum of Contemporary Art (TMoCA).
- Historical Sites
- Sa'dabad Complex and Niavaran Palace (former residences of the Shah).
- Religious Sites
- Imamzadeh Saleh Mosque (Tajrish) and Saint Sarkis Cathedral.
- Annual Events
- Nowruz (Persian New Year) in March; Tehran International Book Fair in May.
- Cultural Districts
- Oudlajan (Jewish Quarter) and the Armenian district around Villa Ave.
- Theater Venues
- City Theater (Tehran-e Shahr) at Daneshjoo Park.
- Local Markets
- Friday Market (Parvaneh) at Abbas Abad Garden for antiques/handicrafts.
- Music Scene
- Vahdat Hall for classical and traditional Persian music performances.
- Street Art
- Ferdowsi Ave and murals near the former US Embassy (Art Garden).
- Cooking Classes
- Persian Food Tours (Private classes in a local home near Vanak).
- Art Galleries
- Etemad Gallery or Mohsen Gallery in Northern Tehran.
- Historic Buildings
- Masoudieh Palace (Baharestan).
- Local Heritage
- The Faravahar symbol and Persian calligraphy art.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Tochal Complex. Telecabin takes you from the city to 3,900m altitude.
- National Parks Nearby
- Khojir National Park or Lar National Park (view of Mt. Damavand).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tabiat Bridge (Nature Bridge) and Abo-Atash Park.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Bam-e Tehran (Tehran's Roof) at the end of Velenjak.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Chitgar Lake (Khalij-e Fars Lake) in West Tehran.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated areas in Chitgar Forest Park.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Iran Post or Tipax (Courier for faster internal shipping).
- Tech Repair Services
- Paytakht Computer Center (Mirdamad Blvd).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Mellat Park or Laleh Park.
- Language Classes
- Dehkhoda Lexicon Institute (Valiasr St) for Persian (Farsi) immersion.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Iran (Haghani Metro).
- Community Centers
- Bahman Cultural Center (South Tehran).
- Gaming Lounges
- Infinity Gaming Center (Sadeghieh).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Illegal).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,500,000,000 IRR per m² ($2,500). Example: 40 m² = $100,000.
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 800,000,000 IRR per m² ($1,300). Example: 40 m² = $52,000.
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,600,000,000 IRR per m² ($2,650). Example: 60 m² = $159,000.
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 750,000,000 IRR per m² ($1,250). Example: 60 m² = $75,000.
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,800,000,000 IRR per m² ($3,000). Example: 80 m² = $240,000.
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 700,000,000 IRR per m² ($1,150). Example: 80 m² = $92,000.
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard rate.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Iran currently does not tax dividends distributed to residents).
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents; territorial for non-residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income exceeding certain thresholds.
- VAT
- 9% standard rate.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited enforcement, but residency rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Annual tax based on 'regional price' (usually very low).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 5% of the transaction value.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Technically no specific nomad visa; low cost of living is the primary draw.