Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Koh Samui?
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 Koh Samui or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Ulaanbaatar? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Ulaanbaatar?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
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 Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $76Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $76, 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 Koh Samui and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Ulaanbaatar $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui 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: Koh Samui Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Ulaanbaatar $2.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.28
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Gas for Scooter$1.22
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $112
- Angthong Catamaran Tour from Koh Samui with Lunch and Transfers: $77
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Koh Tao: $26
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $60
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $49
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $35
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $61
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Hassle Free Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $52
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $56
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- VIP Airport Transfer-Cadillac Escalade (6 Passengers+6 Luggage): $266
- Transfer service to Kharkhorin: $220
- Transfer Service to Khustai National Park: $178
- Airport Private Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $52
- Transfer service to Terelj national park: $51
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36
- Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi 24/7: $21
- ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfer 24/7: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Koh Samui 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 dayKoh Samui $37Ulaanbaatar $15
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $78
- Thai Cooking Class | Farm to Table: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $80
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $86
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $109
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $112
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $120
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: $229
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Ulaanbaatar $4.25
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.02
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $14
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $20
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Koh Samui Half Day Island Guided Tour: $23
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $25
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
- Angthong National Marine Park by Highsea Tour (Official): $30
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $30
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Aglag Buteel Temple Tour- Meditation and Nature: $222
- 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $123
- 1 Day Khustai National Park Tour- Wild Horse (Takhi): $257
- 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 Ulaanbaatar City Tour- Culture and History: $245
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $380
- 2 Day full adventure to Central Mongolia: $370
- 2 day Central Mongolia /Joint public tour: $270
- 3 day Khar khorum budget tour Central Mongolia: $400
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.16Ulaanbaatar $3.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Koh Samui 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 Koh Samui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samui 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 Koh Samui Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui 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.