Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Mumbai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mumbai or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mumbai 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: Mumbai or Ulaanbaatar?
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to 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 dayMumbai $69Ulaanbaatar $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Mumbai is $69, 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 Mumbai and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMumbai $34Ulaanbaatar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMumbai $68Ulaanbaatar $24
Compare Hotels in Mumbai and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Mumbai 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: Mumbai Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mumbai $7.77Ulaanbaatar $2.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Business Car: $60
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van: $93
- Dharavi Slum Tour in Mumbai with Combo Packages & Transfers: $12
- Dharavi Tour Including Car Transfer: $43
- Dharavi Tour Including Car Transfer: $42
- Global Vipassana Pagoda : Half Day Tour with Transfer: $84
- Luxury Mumbai Package with Hotel,Private Airport Transfers and Sightseeing Tour: $270
- Mumbai - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $64
- Mumbai Airport Transfers : Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van: $93
- Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Mumbai City Tour With Laundry And Hotel Transfers (South Mumbai): $46
- Mumbai Private Car: Airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- Airport transfer service: $50
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
- 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
- Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Mumbai or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Mumbai 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 dayMumbai $26Ulaanbaatar $8.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hidden Gems and Street Food Tour: $15
- Discover Mumbai's street & beach with food tour: $17
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $23
- Mumbai Food Tour: $25
- Street Food Tour - Eat like a Local with sunset view: $26
- Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $27
- Guided Food Tour Through the Vibrant Markets of Old Bombay: $28
- Street Food Tour: $32
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $33
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Sun Set View: $38
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.Mumbai $2.66Ulaanbaatar $4.42
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai: $5.32
- Highlights Bus Full-Day Tour in Hindi: $5.40
- Mumbai's Historical Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Dharavi Slum Tour with Local guide: $6.00
- Audio Guided Tour of Matunga & Dadar Parsi Colony, Mumbai: $6.14
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Malabar District, Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Mumbai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.72
- Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour: $6.72
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.63
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.99
- Inside Dharavi: Unveiling Mumbai's Slum Culture Tour: $9.11
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: $96
- 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
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour : $141
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel +Bonus Khustai National Park: $169
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel or Horseback Ride: $145
- 1 Day Tour: Terelj National Park And Chinggis Statue: $193
- 1 Session with Shaman and know your future tour: $149
- 1 day tour Chinggis khan statue, Terelj national park: $89
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $1,950
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $340
- 2 Day Semi-Gobi Tour with nomads And Free Camel Ride: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMumbai $3.69Ulaanbaatar $3.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- Mumbai Private Bar Crawl with City Night Tour: $124
- Nashik: Private Full-Day Wine Tour with Tastings From Mumbai: $128
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour at Sula Vineyards from Mumbai: $152
- Wine Tasting Tour Sula Vineyards Nashik - (Day excursion from Mumbai): $163
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mumbai and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Mumbai 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai 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 Mumbai Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mumbai or Ulaanbaatar?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Mumbai 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.