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

Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Copenhagen?

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

Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Copenhagen? 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 Copenhagen?

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.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. It has a small town vibe but is still a cosmopolitan city with lots of shopping, culture, and nightlife. It's a very safe and comfortable city that is easy to explore on foot. Copenhagen is the birthplace of many old fairytales, but also has modern, world class architecture and a liberal vibe. The people of Copenhagen are diverse and international. Most residents are Danes, but some come from Germany and Sweden and there are also many Middle Eastern immigrants.

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


Which place is cheaper, Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen is $210. 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 Copenhagen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ulaanbaatar $12
    Copenhagen $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ulaanbaatar $24
    Copenhagen $182
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Copenhagen

Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Copenhagen? 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 Copenhagen


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 Copenhagen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $2.91
    Copenhagen $72

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 Copenhagen

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Copenhagen:


  • Bicycle Renting
    $62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Copenhagen

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

  • Copenhagen Airport Transfer Service | English Speaking Driver: $138
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Copenhagen Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Copenhagen Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $207
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Copenhagen hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH): Private Transfer to Copenhagen: $320
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH): Transfer to Copenhagen Port: $335
  • Copenhagen Airport (CPH): Transfer to Fredericia Port: $872
  • Copenhagen Port to Copenhagen Airport (CPH)- Departure Private Transfer: $104
  • Copenhagen Port to Copenhagen Roskilde Airport (RKE)- Departure Private Transfer: $76
  • Copenhagen Port to Copenhagen hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $80
  • Copenhagen Port, Airport & City Private Transfer: $126
  • Copenhagen Roskilde Airport (RKE) to Copenhagen City - Arrival Private Transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Copenhagen?

Prices for flights to both Copenhagen 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
    Copenhagen $62

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 Copenhagen

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


  • Hot Dogs
    $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Copenhagen

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

  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $34
  • Hard Rock Cafe Copenhagen with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $35
  • Food Tour in Multi-Cultural Nørrebro District: $92
  • Copenhagen Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $125
  • The Copenhagen Culinary Experience Food Tour: $147
  • Private Authentic Home Indian Cooking & Dining Experience: $147

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $4.42
    Copenhagen $31

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 Copenhagen

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


  • Boat Tour
    $8.66
  • Coffee
    $14

Tours and Activities in Copenhagen

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

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Danish Design: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
  • Monstour: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Danish Folk Legends: $5.20
  • Danish Design: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Tour of the Danish Resistance during World War II: $5.37
  • App-Based City Exploration Game & Tour: $5.38
  • Slotsholmen Royal History Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Copenhagen's Royal History: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.99
  • The Philosopher's Last Walk: An audio tour on the life of Søren Kierkegaard: $5.99
  • Castle Island’s Royal History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Slotsholmen: $5.99
  • Danish Folk Legends Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.99
  • Royal History Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ulaanbaatar $3.83
    Copenhagen $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Copenhagen

Also in Copenhagen, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Alternative Nightlife Pub Crawl: $36
  • Guided Party Pub Crawl with 4 Shots and 1 Drink: $43
  • Pub Crawl Copenhagen: $44
  • Danish Wine Tasting Tour with Guide in Copenhagen Nyhavn: $361


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Copenhagen, we can see that Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Copenhagen?

Copenhagen has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Copenhagen, 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.