Which place is cheaper, Oslo or Ulaanbaatar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Oslo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Oslo? 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 Oslo?
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.
Oslo
Oslo is not only the largest city in Norway, and also its capital. It also holds the title as the most expensive city in the world. Oslo is a unique capital city in that its boundaries include much forest and wildlife. The city itself is nestled in an amphitheater type setting. The city's core is in the bottom by the fjord, and the residential areas stretch uphill away from the downtown area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUlaanbaatar $25Oslo $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $25, while the average daily cost in Oslo is $137. 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 Oslo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUlaanbaatar $12Oslo $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUlaanbaatar $24Oslo $162
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Oslo
Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Oslo? 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 Oslo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ulaanbaatar $2.91Oslo $23
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oslo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Oslo are as follows:
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Tram Ticket$6.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oslo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oslo:
- Airport & City Transfers in Trondheim: $132
- Arrival Private Transfer Oslo OSL Airport to Oslo by Business Car: $115
- Departure Private Transfer from Oslo City to Oslo Airport OSL by Luxury Van: $155
- Departure Private Transfer from Oslo to Oslo Airport OSL by Business Car: $114
- Olso: Private Transfer from the City Center to Oslo Airport: $108
- Oslo Airport (OSL) to Oslo Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $179
- Oslo Airport (OSL): Private Transfer to Oslo Cruise Port: $489
- Oslo Airport Transfers : Oslo Airport OSL to Oslo City in Business Car: $149
- Oslo Airport Transfers : Oslo Airport OSL to Oslo City in Business Van: $229
- Oslo Airport Transfers : Oslo City to Oslo Airport OSL in Business Car: $147
- Oslo Airport Transfers : Oslo City to Oslo Airport OSL in Business Van: $238
- Oslo City Center to Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Oslo?
Prices for flights to both Oslo 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 $8.94Oslo $30
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 Oslo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oslo.
- Oslofjord Cruise with Seafood Dinner: $59
- Oslo Alternative Culture and Street Food Tour: $73
- Christmas Street Food Tour with Akevitt and Christmas beer : $111
- 3-course Dinner Cruise in the Oslofjord: $119
- Oslo Fjord 3 Course Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ulaanbaatar $4.42Oslo $19
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 Oslo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Oslo are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Explore Oslo with Passionate Tour Guides: $3.23
- Guided Walking Tour in Central Oslo: $4.45
- Digging up the Past in Røros: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Tour a Pie en Oslo en Español: $7.41
- Downtown Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- An Oslo Waterfront Stroll: Self-paced Audio Tour: $7.99
- A Self-Guided Tour of Akershus to Kongen Marina Waterfront: $7.99
- Oslo Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $8.07
- Discover Oslo's Heart: Audio Tour Through Time and Beauty: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- The Fram Museum Admission Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUlaanbaatar $3.83Oslo $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Oslo, we can see that Oslo 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 Oslo 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 Oslo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oslo 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 Oslo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Oslo?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Oslo. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Oslo, 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.