Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Antalya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antalya or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Antalya or Ulaanbaatar? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Antalya or Ulaanbaatar?
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntalya $147Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $147, 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 Antalya and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntalya $55Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntalya $110Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Antalya and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Antalya 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: Antalya Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antalya $110Ulaanbaatar $2.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - Economy: $88
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - TOP VIP Minibus: $132
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minibus: $117
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minivan: $103
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Denizyaka / Gündoğdu / Çolaklı: $76
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Titreyengöl / Sorgun: $91
- AYT - Konyaaltı | Private Transfer Between Antalya Airport: $38
- Adana Airport Transfers to Mersin Hotels: $115
- Adana Airport Transfers to Tarsus city Hotels: $82
- Airport Private Transfer from Antalya to Side/Belek/Kundu: $66
- Alanya City Tour, Boat Trip & Cable Car with Transfer from Side: $63
- Alanya/Mahmutlar: Private Transfer to/from Antalya Airport: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
- Airport transfer service: $50
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Antalya 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 dayAntalya $25Ulaanbaatar $8.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Turkish Tastes at Antalya Food Tour: $47
- Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner: $73
- Full day trip to Pamukkale from Side with dinner: $104
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antalya $46Ulaanbaatar $4.42
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Antalya Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $3.23
- Bazaar Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $6.00
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt And Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Antalya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-Guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Night City Tour At Antalya with Cabrio Bus: $12
- Sulu Island and Adrasan Bay: Boat Tour with Lunch: $13
- Full-Day Private Rafting Adventure in Karabük Türkiye: $13
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Genghis Khan Statue Complex and Terelj National Park Including Lunch: $83
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $83
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour : $141
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel +Bonus Khustai National Park: $169
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel or Horseback Ride: $145
- 1 Day Tour: Terelj National Park And Chinggis Statue: $193
- 1 Session with Shaman and know your future tour: $149
- 1 day tour Chinggis khan statue, Terelj national park: $95
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $1,950
- 2 Day Horse ride and Terelj national park tour: $350
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $340
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntalya $20Ulaanbaatar $3.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antalya and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antalya 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 Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya 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 Antalya Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antalya or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Antalya. When comparing the sizes of Antalya 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.