Middle East

Money, cards and tipping in Iran

Capital: TehranPersian, KurdishUpdated October 2026

IRRRial

Money in Iran

Cash only Sanctions block all foreign cards. Bring funds as euro or dollar cash and change at licensed exchanges. Prices are often quoted in toman (10 rials). US$1 ≈ ﷼776,253.25 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Not obligatory; leave about 10% in nicer restaurants and tip guides and drivers. Expect polite refusals (taarof) before accepting.
ATMs: Foreign cards do not work at any ATM; street money changing is illegal.
Paying by phone: Nothing works with foreign accounts; some tour agencies issue prepaid local cards loaded from your cash.
Price level: about 352% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Tehran	Cash only	Sanctions block foreign cards. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges; prices are often quoted in toman.
Isfahan	Cash only	Foreign cards don't work anywhere. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges.
Shiraz	Cash only	Foreign cards don't work anywhere. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges.
Yazd	Cash only	Foreign cards don't work anywhere. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges.
Kashan	Cash only	Foreign cards don't work anywhere. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges.
Mashhad	Cash only	Foreign cards don't work anywhere. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges.
Tabriz	Cash only	Sanctions block foreign cards. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges; the rial hit about 1.8 million per USD in 2026. Prices are often quoted in toman.
Kish Island	Cash only	Sanctions block foreign cards. Bring euros or dollars in cash and change at licensed exchanges; the rial hit about 1.8 million per USD in 2026. Prices are often quoted in toman.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Iran?

Not obligatory; leave about 10% in nicer restaurants and tip guides and drivers. Expect polite refusals (taarof) before accepting.

Is Iran cashless?

Cash only. Sanctions block all foreign cards. Bring funds as euro or dollar cash and change at licensed exchanges. Prices are often quoted in toman (10 rials).

What currency does Iran use?

The Rial (IRR). US$1 ≈ ﷼776,253.25 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.