Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ankara 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 Ankara 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: Ankara or Ulaanbaatar?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
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 Adventure Tours to Turkey, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mongolia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $111Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $111, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $25. 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 Ankara and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $54Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $108Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Ankara 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $35Ulaanbaatar $2.95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
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Metro Ride$0.04
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Short Taxi Ride$0.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Ankara - Cappadocia Private Transfer (Mercedes Vito): $377
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $107
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to Ankara City Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $68
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $107
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $61
- Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $75
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $113
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $113
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Airport transfer service: $50
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi: $18
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $79
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $42
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $29
- Private Transfer between New Ulaanbaatar International Airport and Ulaanbaatar : $60
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar Airport: $75
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Ankara 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 dayAnkara $31Ulaanbaatar $9.06
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
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A Quick Lunch$0.34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ulaanbaatar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
- Cooking Class in a Traditional Ger Home in Ulaanbaatar Suburbs: $100
- Farm to Table: Organic Farm Visit and Mongolian Cooking Class: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $32Ulaanbaatar $4.48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Underground City$0.24
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $33
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $34
- Private Tour with a Local: $39
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $50
- Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
- Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $226
- Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing: $235
- Ankara Private Walking Tour: $277
- Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
- Konya and Cappdocia Tour 3 Days-2 Nights from Ankara: $455
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour- Terelj National Park: $45
- Genghis Statue & Gorkhi-Terelj National Park Tour : $45
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $49
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour : $50
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour: 3-Hour Ticket Included: $50
- Traditional Music and Dance Performance Ticket: $69
- GENGHIS KHAN STATUE COMPLEX: Half Day Private Tour: $69
- 1 Day City Tour with All-Museum Private Tour With Free Admission: $70
- Day Coach Tour of Aglag Buteel Monastery and Meditation Center Including Lunch : $72
- Genghis Khan Statue One Day Tour +Bonus Terelj National Park And Aryabal Temple: $79
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour + Bonus Gorkhi-Terelj National Park One Day tour: $79
- Ancient Fine Arts with Honored Masters - UB City Experience: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $14Ulaanbaatar $3.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara is in Europe 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 Ankara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ankara 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 Ankara Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Ulaanbaatar?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Ankara 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.