Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut 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 Beirut 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: Beirut or Ulaanbaatar?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.77Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.77, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $30. 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 Beirut and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Ulaanbaatar $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Ulaanbaatar $2.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $13
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $25
- Beirut-Rafic Hariri Airport Luxury Car Transfer: $70
- Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- Private Departure Transfer | Beirut Hotel to Airport: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport: $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfer 24/7: $23
- Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
- Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfers and Customized Day Tours: $90
- Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer and Private Car with Driver: $40
- Transfer service to Kharkhorin: $240
- Transfer Service to Khustai National Park: $178
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $23
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfers to/from Ulaanbaatar: $23
- Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi 24/7: $23
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $1.23Ulaanbaatar $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Beirut Street Food Tour, Lebanon: $85
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Beirut Street Food Tour | Hummus, Knefeh & Manoushe: $135
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
- Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ulaanbaatar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
- Ulaanbaatar Walking Tour & Cooking Class in a Mongolian Home: $89
- Cooking Class in a Traditional Ger Home in Ulaanbaatar Suburbs: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Ulaanbaatar $4.24
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off Citysightseeing Tour & Audio Guide: $30
- Small-Group Tour: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, Byblos with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Beirut Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Private Tour - Explore Anjar Lebanon: $35
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery | Budget Small-Group Tour Beirut: $45
- Guided Small-Group Tour to Jeita, Harissa, Byblos with Lunch: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche | Budget Small-Group Tour From Beirut: $45
- Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos with Lunch: $45
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day -Nomad Naadam Experience: $116
- 1 Day Aglag Buteel Temple Tour- Meditation and Nature: $226
- 1 Day Khustai National Park Tour- Wild Horse (Takhi): $262
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour: $146
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel +Bonus Khustai National Park: $169
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour with Lunch And Enjoying Camel or Horseback: $138
- 1 Day Terelj Tour from Ulaanbaatar: $250
- 1 Day Tour: Terelj National Park And Chinggis Statue: $212
- 1 Day Ulaanbaatar City Tour- Culture and History: $250
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $380
- 2 Day Terelj Park and Mongolian Nomadic Family Experience: $219
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Ulaanbaatar $3.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
- Discover Wine Tasting Lebanese Tour Experience: $170
- Half-Day Private Chateau Musar and Ixsir Wine Tour from Beirut: $186
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $234
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Ulaanbaatar is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Ulaanbaatar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ulaanbaatar than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Ulaanbaatar?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.