A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ulaanbaatar vs. Bogota for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Bogota?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Bogota? 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: Ulaanbaatar or Bogota?

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.

Bogota

Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Bogota or Ulaanbaatar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $25, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $52. 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 Ulaanbaatar and Bogota in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ulaanbaatar $12
    Bogota $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ulaanbaatar $24
    Bogota $52
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Bogota

Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Bogota? 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.

Hotels in Ulaanbaatar


Hotels in Bogota


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: Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices and Bogota Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $2.91
    Bogota $8.61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:

  • Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
  • Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
  • Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
  • Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
  • Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
  • New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
  • Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
  • Airport transfer service: $50
  • Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
  • 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $7.42
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.39
  • 2 Bus Passes
    $0.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota

Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Andres Carne de Res Chia • Premium Private Transfer: $39
  • Arrival Private Transfer Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City in a Luxury Van: $134
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minibus: $124
  • Bogotá Graffiti Bike Tour - No Transfers: $80
  • Bogotá Private Luxury Transfer - Airport Pick Up or Drop Off - SUV Mercedes Benz: $97
  • Bogotá to or from Barichara or San Gil Private Transfer: $167
  • Bogotá to or from Villa de Leyva Private Transfer: $80
  • Bogota Airport BOG to Downtown Hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Bogota Airport BOG to Downtown Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Departure Private Transfer Bogota City to Bogota Airport BOG in Luxury Van: $134
  • El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
  • Premium Private Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Bogota Hotels: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Bogota?

Prices for flights to both Bogota and Ulaanbaatar 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ulaanbaatar $8.94
    Bogota $13

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

Typical Food Prices in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $1.54
  • Hot Dog
    $0.90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bogota Local Food Tour in the City Center: $13
  • Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
  • PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
  • Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
  • Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
  • Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
  • Private Street Food Tour in Candelaria Bogota: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $4.42
    Bogota $13

Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar

Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
  • 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: $95
  • 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $1,950
  • 2 Day Horse ride and Terelj national park tour: $350
  • 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $340

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Beer
    $1.29

Tours and Activities in Bogota

For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Party Tour: 6 nightclubs, Disco-Truck, After Party, 2 openbars: $2.95
  • Colonial Bogotá: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of La Candelaria: $5.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part I : $6.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part II: $6.99
  • Monserrate Regular Tickets: $11
  • Bike Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $12
  • Graffiti Tour: a fascinating walk through a street art City: $13
  • Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $13
  • Tour of the Colombian Armed Conflict: war, drug trafficking and peace: $13
  • Walking Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $14
  • Alternative tour of Bogotá: gastronomic and cultural: $19
  • Bike Tour through Bogotá: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ulaanbaatar $3.83
    Bogota $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:

  • Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
  • Pub Crawl in Bogota - Ancient Brews : $103


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Bogota, we can see that Bogota is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ulaanbaatar is in Asia and Bogota is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Bogota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bogota 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 Ulaanbaatar Expensive? and Is Bogota Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Bogota?

Bogota has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Bogota, 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.