Should you visit Hanoi 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 Hanoi 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: Hanoi or Ulaanbaatar?
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
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.
Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $49, 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 Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi 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:
Hanoi Hotel Prices and
Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
-
Luxury Halong Bay Day Tour - 6 hours cruising - Limousine transfers:
$119
-
( Deluxe & Small Group ) Bai Dinh Trang An Mua Cave Tour with Limousine Transfer:
$54
-
1-Way Transfer between Hanoi and Ha Long via Limousine Bus:
$22
-
2 Days 1 night Ba Be Lake BEST ADVENTURE: transfer,homestay,boat,kayak,swim,cave:
$153
-
2 Days Halong Bay With Budget Cruise - Including Transfer From Hanoi:
$148
-
2 days Halong Calypso All Inclusive Cruise with Transfer:
$155
-
2-Day Adenture Pu Luong Motorbike Tour with Transfer from HANOI :
$125
-
2-Day Halong Bay Tou & Ninh binh Tour With Transfer:
$120
-
2-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay With Transfer:
$190
-
2-Day In Halong Bay Cruise With Transfer From Hanoi:
$180
-
2-Day Ninh Binh & Halong Bay With Transfer:
$210
-
2-Day Trekking Tour to Sapa from Hanoi by EXPRESSWAY TRANSFER Luxury Limousine:
$122
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
-
2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!:
$18
-
Airport transfer service:
$50
-
New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service:
$45
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport:
$20
-
Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport:
$20
-
Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City :
$28
-
Private Transfer between New Ulaanbaatar International Airport and Ulaanbaatar :
$60
-
Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar:
$31
-
Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park:
$60
-
Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle:
$28
-
Transfer service to Terelj national park :
$51
-
Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer:
$27
Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Hanoi 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 day
Hanoi $13
Ulaanbaatar $9.09
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
-
Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi :
$5.00
-
Hanoi free food tour - Old Quarter food walking tour:
$5.00
-
(Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR :
$5.13
-
Street Food Tour with Free Private Tour Guide:
$5.26
-
Hanoi Best Local Food Tour Visit Train Street Old Quarter:
$19
-
Hanoi food tour - Local street food walking tour:
$19
-
Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour:
$20
-
Hanoi local street food tour:
$20
-
Hanoi street food tour small group tour:
$22
-
Walking Street Food Tour Small Group with Local Guide:
$22
-
Ngon ngon & Authentic Hanoi Food Tour:
$23
-
Hanoi Street Food Tour:
$23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Skip the Line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets:
$4.90
-
Private Walking Tour of Hanoi City:
$5.00
-
Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
(Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
Hanoi Old Quarter Free walking tour:
$5.00
-
Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter:
$5.00
-
Hanoi half day city tour.:
$5.00
-
Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi:
$5.00
-
Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
Skip the line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets:
$5.00
-
Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour with Student Guide:
$5.13
-
Hanoi War Sites Walking Tour:
$5.13
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
-
Ulaanbatar : Private Custom Tour With A Local Guide :
$49
-
Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour :
$50
-
Genghis Khan Statue Tour:
$57
-
Traditional Music and Dance Performance Ticket:
$69
-
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
-
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
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour:
$48
-
Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi:
$107
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Hanoi 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 Hanoi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hanoi 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 Hanoi Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Ulaanbaatar?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 69% larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi 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.
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