Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kolkata (Calcutta) or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kolkata (Calcutta) or Ulaanbaatar, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Kolkata (Calcutta) or Ulaanbaatar?
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKolkata (Calcutta) $37Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $37, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $25. 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKolkata (Calcutta) $17Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKolkata (Calcutta) $34Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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: Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kolkata (Calcutta) $5.11Ulaanbaatar $2.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $69
- Kolkata 8 Hour Private City Tour Including Hotel Transfers by Car: $86
- Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $165
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kolkata Airport: $32
- Private Transfer Kolkata Airport CCU To Kolkata Hotels Drop: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
- Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Airport transfer service: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Kolkata (Calcutta) or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 dayKolkata (Calcutta) $14Ulaanbaatar $8.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $35
- Cooking experience in Authentic Bengali House with Lunch/Dinner: $41
- Alleyway Food Tour: $42
- Traditional Bengali Cooking Class in Kolkata in a Local Home: $64
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kolkata (Calcutta) $15Ulaanbaatar $4.42
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Kolkata (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Kolkata Colonial Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Kolkata Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $20
- Chasing The Sun Experience Kolkata's Culture: $25
- Kolkata Half Day Guided City Tour: $27
- The Taste of Kolkata - Evening Food Walk Tour: $30
- Magic Hour Tour: $37
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $37
- Kolkata's Flower Market - Hooghly's Flower Fest Tour: $37
- Kolkata Slum Walking Tour: $41
- Indian Museum Guided Tour (Including surrounding area): $43
- Mesmerising Kolkata Private Customised Day Tour: $53
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $47
- Ulaanbatar : Private Custom Tour With A Local Guide : $48
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Sain Nomun Monastery Tour : $50
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour: 3-Hour Ticket Included: $65
- Genghis Khan Statue Tour: 3-Hour Ticket Included: $65
- Traditional Music and Dance Performance Ticket: $69
- 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 Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $83
- Day Tour of Hustai National Park: $83
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKolkata (Calcutta) $8.27Ulaanbaatar $3.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also in Kolkata (Calcutta), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Kolkata: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Ulaanbaatar?
Kolkata (Calcutta) has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Kolkata (Calcutta) 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.