Which place is cheaper, Bratislava or Ulaanbaatar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Bratislava?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Bratislava? 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 Bratislava?
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.
Bratislava
The capital and largest city of Slovakia, Bratislava is set on the shores of the Danube River near the borders of Austria and Hungary. While the city is skirted by mountains and vineyards, its 18th century old town center is crossed with cobbled walkways and surrounded by historic landmarks and architecture. One such monument is the Bratislava Castle, set atop a hill overlooking it all-the old town, the river, and the bustle of people in the charming city below.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Slovakia, and The Best River Cruises in Slovakia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUlaanbaatar $25Bratislava $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $25, while the average daily cost in Bratislava is $130. 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 Bratislava in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUlaanbaatar $12Bratislava $53
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUlaanbaatar $24Bratislava $106
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Bratislava
Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Bratislava? 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: Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices and Bratislava Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ulaanbaatar $2.91Bratislava $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
- 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Airport transfer service: $50
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bratislava
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bratislava:
- Bratislava Airport (BTS) to Bojnice Resorts - Round Trip Transfer: $132
- Bratislava Airport BTS to Piestany - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Bratislava Airport BTS to Poprad - Arrival Private Transfer: $170
- Bratislava Airport to Turčianske Teplice Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Bratislava-Budapest One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
- Airport to Hotel Private Transfer Service: $24
- Private Transfer From Bratislava To Vienna Airport, 2 Hour Stop: $110
- Private Transfer From Bratislava To Vienna, 2h Stop in Schlosshof: $125
- Private Transfer from Bratislava City to Vienna City: $98
- Private Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest with 2h of Sightseeing: $202
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in Bratislava (hotel OR airport pick-up): $28
- Private transfer from Bratislava to Vienna: $263
Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Bratislava?
Prices for flights to both Bratislava 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 dayUlaanbaatar $8.94Bratislava $48
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bratislava
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bratislava.
- Local Beer & Food Tour: $142
- Bratislava Traditional Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ulaanbaatar $4.42Bratislava $32
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
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Genghis Khan Statue Complex and Terelj National Park Including Lunch: $83
- Day Tour of Hustai National Park: $83
- Full Day Private Tour in Terelj National Park with Horse Riding: $85
Tours and Activities in Bratislava
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bratislava are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Top experience walking tour with bonus and castle: $4.37
- Bratislava Old Town In App Audio Tour (ENG): $5.43
- City & Castle Tour - Introduction to Bratislava: $5.46
- Guided City and Castle Tour from Bratislava: $5.47
- Historic City Centre Self-guided Tour: $6.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Bratislava Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $7.00
- Gallery Multium Entrance Ticket: $7.00
- Gallery Multium Entrance Ticket: $7.11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayUlaanbaatar $3.83Bratislava $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Bratislava
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bratislava:
- Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $11
- Quick Wine Tasting in Michalská: $11
- Wine Tasting with Sommelier in Bratislava: $14
- Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $15
- Wine Tasting IN THE DARK!: $16
- Wine Tasting IN THE DARK!: $21
- Bratislava 3-Hour Wine Tasting: $104
- Devin Castle Tour with Currant Wine Tasting: $144
- Devin Castle Tour with Wine Tasting: $159
- Bratislava Food and Wine Tour: $181
- Little Carpathian Wine Tour: $201
- 6-Hour Carpathian Wine Tour and Tasting: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Bratislava, we can see that Bratislava 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 Bratislava is in Europe, 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 Bratislava would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bratislava 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 Bratislava Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Bratislava?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Bratislava. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Bratislava, 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.