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

Should you visit Bali or Ulaanbaatar?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Ulaanbaatar can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bali or Ulaanbaatar?

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

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 Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.


Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Bali?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $74, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $26. 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 Bali and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $42
    Ulaanbaatar $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $84
    Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Bali and Ulaanbaatar

Looking for a hotel in Bali 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 Bali


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: Bali Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bali $9.20
    Ulaanbaatar $2.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $3.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $103
  • BEST ATV RIDE with LUNCH and PRIVATE HOTEL TRANSFER. : $65
  • Bali DPS Airport Private Transfer from-to Jimbaran: $22
  • Bali Massage with Transfer to International Bali Airport (DPS): $58
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure with Including Hotel Transfer: $45
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $59
  • Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Bali Spa Treatment with Airport Transfers (Departure): $56
  • Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $109
  • Bali Tours 4U Airport and Seaport transfers. 24 hours a day.: $21
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $64
  • Bali and Nusa Penida: Fast Boat Transfers: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:

  • 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
  • Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $31
  • Airport transfer service: $50
  • Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Ulaanbaatar?

Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Bali 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
    Bali $21
    Ulaanbaatar $9.12
Typical Food Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.26
  • Lunch for Two
    $14
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $27
  • Lunch for Two
    $8.22
  • Lunch for 2
    $9.11
  • Dinner for 2
    $9.99

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
  • From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $30
  • Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $31
  • From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $35
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
  • Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
  • Padang-Padang Beach+ Uluwatu Sunset and Kecak Dance + Dinner: $45
  • Bali Street Food Tour: $45
  • Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village, english: $50
  • Bali's Best Sunset: Uluwatu Kecak Dance & Dinner Jimbaran Beach: $50
  • Private Full or Half-Day Authentic Food Tour: $52
  • Ubud: Romantic Barbecue Dinner by the Pool: $56

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $11
    Ulaanbaatar $4.51
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $55
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $13
  • Cooking School
    $28

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • Bali Water Sports Adventure: $7.89
  • Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket: $9.21
  • Tanah Lot Temple Guided Tour: $12
  • Kecak and Fire Dance Ticket at Uluwatu Temple: $14
  • Uluwatu Temple and Karang Boma Cliff Tour with Tickets: $16
  • Watersport activity Ocean walker, Parasailing Adventure & Banana Boat: $18
  • Bali Nusa Dua Theatre: Devdan Show Tickets: $18
  • Full Day Tour: Hidden Sensational Tour with Best Driver: $19
  • White Water Rafting Adventure in Ubud - All Inclusive: $20
  • 1-Day Instant Entry Ticket to Waterbom Bali: $20
  • All Inclusive Bali Snorkeling Blue Lagoon tour experience : $20
  • Jetsky Bali Watersport Experience: $21

Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar

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

  • Terelj National Park: Tour with horse riding and hiking: $4.00
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $48
  • Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour : $50
  • Traditional Music and Dance Performance Ticket: $69
  • Day Coach Tour of Aglag Buteel Monastery and Meditation Center Including Lunch : $72
  • Genghis Khan Statue Tour + Bonus Gorkhi-Terelj National Park One Day tour: $79
  • Genghis Khan Statue One Day Tour +Bonus Terelj National Park And Aryabal Temple: $79
  • Ancient Fine Arts with Honored Masters - UB City Experience: $82
  • 1 Day Coach Tour of Genghis Khan Statue Complex and Terelj National Park Including Lunch: $83
  • Day Tour to Terelj Park Chinggs khaan statue, Zaisan Hill: $86
  • Night city tour all included: $90
  • City tour all included: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $3.26
    Ulaanbaatar $3.91


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Bali 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali 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 Bali Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bali or Ulaanbaatar?

Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.