Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Amman or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Ulaanbaatar. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Ulaanbaatar?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital city. It has a population of slightly over two million people, or about sixty percent of the country's entire population. You are likely to arrive in Ulaanbaatar either by train, coming from China or Russia, or by plane. Many people use Ulaanbaatar as a stop off while doing the Transsiberian Railway. The city is a great place to organize a tour of the surrounding countryside. It's also good city to relax, so make sure you allow yourself a few days to recover from your tour, enjoy some of the great food options, and see some of the fascinating cultural sights around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Amman Prices
Jordan PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $135Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $30. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amman and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Ulaanbaatar $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Amman and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Amman or Ulaanbaatar? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amman Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Ulaanbaatar $2.79
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Active Aqaba Private Transfer from to Amman or Airport or Dead Sea: $60
- Airport Transfer To/From The Dead Sea: $51
- Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $95
- Airport to Dead Sea Transfer (private shuttle): $85
- Amman Airport (AMM) to Amman hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport Private Departure Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $30
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman By Minivan: $65
- Amman Airport Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $45
- Amman Airport Transfer Pickup/Drop-Off: $22
- Amman Airport Transfers - Book Your Airport Taxi: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- VIP Airport Transfer-Cadillac Escalade (6 Passengers+6 Luggage): $266
- ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfer 24/7: $21
- Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
- Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer and Private Car with Driver: $40
- Transfer service to Terelj national park: $51
- Private Transfers in Ulaanbaatar – Flexible & Reliable: $70
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $52
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $22
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Chinggis Khaan International Airport UBN Taxi Transfer: $20
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfers to/from Ulaanbaatar: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Amman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAmman $58Ulaanbaatar $15
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- private cooking with local chef: $40
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $80
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $107
- Traditional Cooking Class in Amman with Return Hotel Transfers: $118
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience: $147
- Private Food Tour in Amman by Day (inc Citadel & Roman Theatre): $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Ulaanbaatar $4.24
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Seven Sleepers Cave and King Abdullah Mosque Private Tour: $20
- Amman Private City Tour with Local Mansaf Lunch: $20
- Amman Private City Tour: $20
- Amman Old and New Private City Tour: $20
- Amman Private Guided City Tour: $20
- Amman Private City Tour with Local Lunch: $20
- Day or Night Walking Tour in Downtown With Local: $25
- Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $30
- Full Day Amman Private City Tour: $30
- Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Ma'in Private Guided Tour: $30
- Petra Madaba and Mount Nebo Private Guided Tour: $30
- Amman Madaba and Mount Nebo Private Tour: $35
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day -Nomad Naadam Experience: $100
- 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $123
- 1 Day Khustai National Park Tour- Wild Horse (Takhi): $258
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour: $146
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel +Bonus Khustai National Park: $169
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour with Lunch And Enjoying Camel or Horseback: $138
- 1 Day Terelj Tour from Ulaanbaatar: $250
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $380
- 2 Day full adventure to Central Mongolia: $370
- 2 day Central Mongolia /Joint public tour: $270
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Ulaanbaatar $3.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman and Boulevard Walking Tour: $93
- Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting: $127
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Ulaanbaatar is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ulaanbaatar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ulaanbaatar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Ulaanbaatar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Ulaanbaatar?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Ulaanbaatar, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.