Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao 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.
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, 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 Qingdao and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao 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.
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Qingdao 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Qingdao 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 Qingdao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Qingdao 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 Qingdao Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Qingdao 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.