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 $2.76Ulaanbaatar $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.76, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $31. 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 $1.25Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.50Ulaanbaatar $24
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 $2.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Airport to your hotel in Beirut: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut to Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $19
- Transfer service to Terelj national park : $51
- Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers in Mongolia: $32
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $29
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar Airport: $75
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $38
- Private Transfer between New Ulaanbaatar International Airport and Ulaanbaatar : $60
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $29
- Private Airport Transfer taxi in Ulaanbaatar: $30
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Genghis Khan Statue & Terel parkj / Non-Guided Transfers: $32
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi: $19
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 $1.22Ulaanbaatar $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: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Motorbike Tour in Beirut with Local Street Food Dinner: $50
- Private Lebanese Home Cooking Class in Byblos with a Local Family: $86
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
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: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Ulaanbaatar $4.34
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Small Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos with Hotel pickup: $10
- Discovering Lebanon: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $15
- Beirut Arrival Pass – 7 Day Self Guided Audio Tour: $20
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Beirut Walking Tour - Discover Beirut by foot: $30
- Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Lebanon's Treasures: Jeita Grotto and Harissa Private Tour: $35
- Private Tour - Explore Anjar Lebanon: $35
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $36
- Beirut Full Day Walking Tour: $41
- Discover Lebanon's Finest Wine: Full Day Tour of the Bekaa Valley: $50
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: $100
- ‘Private 2-day 1 night tour to ancient capital Kharkhorin’: $180
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $92
- 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 Tour to Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Turtle Rock: $46
- 1 Day Tour: Khustai National Park: $206
- 1 Day tour to Chinggis khaan statue complex and Turtle Rock: $50
- 1 Day tour: Khustai National Park: Przewalski's wild horses: $190
- 1 Session with Shaman and know your future tour: $149
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Ulaanbaatar $3.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Byblos & Chateau Musar: History and Wine Tour: $65
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $100
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $100
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $104
- Wine Tasting Tour: $160
- Half-Day Private Chateau Musar and Ixsir Wine Tour from Beirut: $181
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.