Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Ulaanbaatar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Brussels?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Brussels? 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 Brussels?
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.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUlaanbaatar $25Brussels $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $25, while the average daily cost in Brussels is $147. 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 Brussels in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUlaanbaatar $12Brussels $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUlaanbaatar $24Brussels $156
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Brussels
Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Brussels? 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 Brussels Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ulaanbaatar $2.91Brussels $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- 2024 Ulaanbaatar Airport Transfer & Taxi Shuttle Service - Best!: $18
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Airport transfer service: $50
- Mongolia Airport Transfer & Taxi Service -BEST!: $18
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Private Departure Transfer: Ulaanbaatar Airport: $40
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN to Ulaanbaatar City : $28
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $37
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport ULN by Business Vehicle: $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
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Subway Pass$4.82
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Atomium train ticket (2)$8.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- Brussels to Ostend Airport (OST) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Airport Transfer: Brussels to Airport BRU by Business Car: $82
- Airport Transfer: Brussels to Brussels Airport BRU by Luxury Van: $86
- Airport transfers from Brussels to Zaventem Brussels airport by luxury car: $74
- Arrival Private Transfer Brussels Train Station to Brussels by Luxury Car or Van: $68
- Arrival Transfer from Brussels Train Station to Brussels by Sedan: $64
- BRU Airport Transfer to Brussels City Center for 3 Pax: $151
- BRU Airport Transfer to Brussels City Center for 7 Pax: $129
- Brussels <-> transfer from or to Brussels Airport (BRU) by Van: $131
- Brussels Airport (BRU) To Amsterdam: VIP Transfer: $495
- Brussels Airport Departure Transfer (Brussels Hotels to Brussels Airport): $106
- Brussels Airport Transfer (BRU) <-> to or from Brussels (Sedan): $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Brussels?
Prices for flights to both Brussels 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
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Food Meals for one dayUlaanbaatar $8.94Brussels $41
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 Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
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Ice Cream & Macaroons$4.93
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Dessert (Turkish Delights)$5.09
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Cheese$6.00
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Olives and Snacks$7.48
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Waffle$3.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $28
- Chocolate and Beer Food Tour of Brussels: $43
- City Center Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $61
- Food Tour in Brussels - Do Eat Better Experience: $106
- Brussels Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $130
- Secret Food Tours Brussels: $138
- Market Tour and Cooking Lesson with a Belgian Gourmet Meal in a Brussels Home: $160
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ulaanbaatar $4.42Brussels $25
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 Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Historical Walking Tour: The Story of Brussels - by Legends: $3.26
- Free Tour of Brussels in Italian (with booking fee): $3.26
- BELvue Belgium History Museum Entry Ticket: $5.38
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $5.99
- A Self-Guided Tour of Brussels' Secret Places and Untold Stories: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $7.00
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.27
- Museum Halle Gate Entry Ticket: $7.53
- Brussels’ Noble Beginnings: An Upper Town Audio Tour: $7.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUlaanbaatar $3.83Brussels $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$11
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Beer$6.43
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience: $17
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Party Experience: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Brussels, we can see that Brussels 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 Brussels 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 Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels 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 Brussels Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Brussels?
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Brussels, 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.