When traveling to Iran, one of the first things tourists notice is the confusion between two currency terms: Rial and Toman. Although the official currency is the Iranian Rial (IRR), most Iranians commonly use Toman in everyday conversations.

Here's a simple explanation:

  • 1 Toman = 10 Rials.
    This means if something costs 10,000 Tomans, it’s actually 100,000 Rials on your receipt or bank transaction.

Tips for Tourists:

  • Always ask whether the price is in Rials or Tomans, especially in markets and taxis.

  • Most prices you hear verbally are in Tomans, but written prices (on invoices, bills, or ATMs) are usually in Rials.

  • If in doubt, politely confirm: "Toman or Rial?"

Quick example:

  • A taxi driver says "300 Toman" — he means 3,000 Rials.

  • A menu shows "150,000" — it’s probably 150,000 Rials, or 15,000 Tomans.

Understanding this small difference will make your trip smoother and help you avoid confusion when handling money in Iran.