Moving to Tehran is a big step, and the practicalities can feel overwhelming at first: foreign cards that don’t work, apps you can’t download, rents quoted in tomans and a city of nine million people to find your way around. This guide brings together everything we have written for people living in Tehran, whether you are a foreign professional, a student, a diplomat’s family or an Iranian returning from abroad. Each link goes to a full guide.
Is Tehran right for you? Start with our honest guides to living in Iran as a foreigner and the pros and cons of living in Tehran, along with an expat’s view. Our cost of living guide, updated for 2026, sets out rent, food and transport budgets, and the weekly Iran prices tracker shows the latest figures. If you are working remotely, read whether you can work from Tehran.
Visas and paperwork. Our guide to Iran visas covers every route in, and Iranian men living abroad should read our guide to military service, exemptions and exit stamps. If you are importing a car, see the import rules for Iranians abroad.
Where to live. Most foreigners settle in the north of the city. Compare the best expat neighbourhoods and the most desirable areas to live, or look further afield with our guide to living in west Tehran. We also have neighbourhood guides to Tajrish, Jordan Street and Majidieh.
Renting and buying. Our guide to renting or buying property in Tehran explains how deposits and monthly rent work, and our list of the best property websites covers Divar, Sheypoor and Kilid. If you plan to buy, read our buyer’s guide and the rules for buying property as a foreigner. Tenants and landlords should know the eviction laws.
Setting up your home. See how to pay utility bills and what to expect from the summer power cut schedule. For furnishing, see where to buy furniture and bathroom fittings.
Money and banking. Foreign bank cards do not work in Iran, so cash and a local account matter. Read our guides to exchanging money in Iran, changing currency in Tehran and at the airports. Our banking series covers the best banks for non-Persian speakers, using ATMs and coins, notes and cheques. Confused by prices? See the difference between the toman and the rial and our guide to understanding product prices.
Phones and the internet. Get a SIM card with our guide to Iran’s mobile networks, then register your handset under the phone registry scheme, using the Hamta app. If you need a new phone, see where to buy one. Many international services are filtered, so read about social media in Iran, the status of WhatsApp, the VPN market and the best apps for foreigners.
Shopping and groceries. Our guides to the top supermarkets and online grocery apps cover the weekly shop. For imported ingredients, try Behjat Abad market, and for bargains, the Jomeh Bazaar Friday market and our tips on haggling in the bazaar. The top shopping malls and Iran Mall have everything else.
Health and wellbeing. Our guide to hospitals and our list of English-speaking dentists are worth bookmarking. Winter smog is a real issue, so read how to deal with air pollution and the best air quality apps; in summer, see our tips on staying cool. To stay active, see the top sports complexes, yoga classes and how to keep fit for free.
Rules and customs. Women should read our guide to the hijab rules, and everyone should understand the alcohol law. Our guide to gifts for Iranian hosts will help with your first dinner invitation, and our coverage of Nowruz and Yalda Night explains the big festivals.
Work and business. If you are working in Iran, see our beginner’s guide to doing business, doing business in Tehran, the cost of office space and marketing and advertising in Iran. To meet other foreigners, read about InterNations in Tehran.
Families. Parents should see our family guide to Tehran, which covers international schools, childcare and things to do with children.
Getting around and learning the language. Our guide to getting around Tehran covers the metro, buses, taxis and driving. Life is much easier with a little Persian, and the Persia Learning course, whose first lesson is free, takes you from the alphabet to everyday conversation.
