Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Ulaanbaatar, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Ulaanbaatar?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mongolia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $127Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, 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 Aqaba and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Ulaanbaatar $2.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Amman: Day Trip Petra & Wadi Rum Guided Tour with Transfer: $123
- Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Aqaba, Jordan : $35
- Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra : $90
- Aqaba Border Yitzhak Rabin Terminal to Petra Private Transfer: $140
- Aqaba King Hussein Airport (AQJ): Transfer to Aqaba hotels: $169
- Aqaba King Hussein Airport to Aqaba - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Aqaba Or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Dead Sea, Jordan: $185
- Aqaba Or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Petra, Jordan: $105
- Aqaba Or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Wadi Rum, Jordan: $60
- Aqaba Private Transfer from/to Amman, Airport, Dead Sea or K.H.B: $125
- Aqaba to Aqaba King Hussein Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $34
- From Amman or Amman Airport : Private transfer to Aqaba city: $106
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 Aqaba or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $42Ulaanbaatar $9.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $74
- Wadi Rum 4-Hour Sunset Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $83
- 4 hour desert jeep tour with overnight in beduin camp including dinner&breakfast: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $87
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $105
- Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
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.Aqaba $54Ulaanbaatar $4.48
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Turgut camp with tour: $15
- Wadi Rum Jeep Tours - Full Day Jeep Tour: $23
- Private Snorkeling Experience in Aqaba Red Sea: $27
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- 3-Hour Shore Dive or Snorkel Experiences in Aqaba: $30
- Saraya Aqaba Waterpark entrance tickets: $33
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- Discover Aqaba in Style: A 3-h City Tour by Car with meal: $37
- Walking Tour History ,Culture & Food: $37
- Jeep Tours in Wadi Rum with Bedouin Guide 2,3,4,5 hours | Magic Bedouin Star: $38
- Mosaic Art Experience: $40
- Half day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum incl. water and Bedouin tea: $40
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Genghis Statue & Gorkhi-Terelj National Park Tour : $45
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour- Terelj National Park: $45
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $49
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour: 3-Hour Ticket Included: $50
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour : $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 dayAqaba $9.07Ulaanbaatar $3.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba 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 Aqaba Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba 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.