Moving to United Kingdom from Iran

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Iran to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iran to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 6.8 times more expensive than Iran overall. A IRR103,106,250,000 salary in Iran would need to be roughly £94,762 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 72°F in Tehran, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iran and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

IRR103,106,250,000 £94,762

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.2 times more

Groceries

pay 3.0 times more

Transportation

pay 5.3 times more

Housing

pay 8.2 times more

Childcare

pay 19.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.7 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IRR = 0.0 GBP (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Iran to United Kingdom.

Living there in 2020
83,531 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Iran live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Iran.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

IR
2.4
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IR
20.6
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IR
$1,064
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IR
15.1
GB
31.7

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IR
51.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IR
9.1t
GB
4.2t

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IR
12.3
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IR
81.3%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IR
9.1%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IR
$16,200
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IR
75.2 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IR
14.8
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tehran London
Jan–Mar 52°/35°F (11°/2°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/61°F (28°/16°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 94°/72°F (35°/22°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Tehran London
Jan 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iran and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.

Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iran passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Iran

Visa Required
United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to enter Iran.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than Iran?

On average United Kingdom is around 69% pricier than Iran, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £23,690 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a IRR103,106,250,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Iran across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.4 in Iran.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Iran?

Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 15.1 in Iran. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iran: 74).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Iran?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 72°F in Tehran. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Tehran gets 9.1 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Iran, the official language is Persian (Farsi).

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At a Glance

IR GB
Population 86,758,304 67,791,400
Currency Iranian Rial (IRR) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Persian (Farsi) English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +98 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 115 999