A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Atami vs. Ulaanbaatar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Atami or Ulaanbaatar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Atami and Ulaanbaatar can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Atami or Ulaanbaatar?

Atami

Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.

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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.


Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Atami?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Atami is $86, 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 Atami and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Atami $43
    Ulaanbaatar $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Atami $86
    Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Atami and Ulaanbaatar

Looking for a hotel in Atami 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.

Hotels in Atami


Hotels in Ulaanbaatar


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: Atami Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Atami $35
    Ulaanbaatar $2.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atami

Also for Atami, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Haneda Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $557
  • Narita Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $650

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 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
  • 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Atami or Ulaanbaatar?

Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Atami 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Atami $24
    Ulaanbaatar $8.94

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: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Atami $7.68
    Ulaanbaatar $4.42

Tours and Activities in Atami

For Atami, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Explore Atami's Culinary Culture" Walking Tour: $44
  • Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour: $104
  • ACAO BEACH: Tent Sauna experience at private resort: $114
  • Exclusive Geisha Experience: $114
  • Ninja, Samurai, Odawara Castle Experience: $131
  • Hakone one day tour: $157

Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar

Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private Tandem Paragliding Experience at Bayanzurkh Mountain: $96
  • 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: $89
  • 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $1,950
  • 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $340
  • 2 Day Semi-Gobi Tour with nomads And Free Camel Ride: $235

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Atami $5.45
    Ulaanbaatar $3.83


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atami and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Atami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atami 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 Atami Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Atami or Ulaanbaatar?

Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Atami 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.

Related Articles for Atami
Related Articles for Ulaanbaatar