Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Ulaanbaatar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Krakow? 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.
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.
Krakow is Poland's second largest city. It sits on both sides of the Wisla River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. There are more than 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area. Krakow is known as a historical and beautiful city that is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tourism makes up a large part of the city's economy, but there is also a university and several local colleges which are major employers as well. Technology has grown in recent years and the city has some notable employees including Google, IBM and Motorola. Other important industries include steel, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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 Krakow is $65. 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 Krakow in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Krakow? 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.
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Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
Prices for flights to both Krakow 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Krakow, we can see that Krakow 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 Krakow 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 Krakow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krakow 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 Krakow Expensive?.
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Krakow, 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.