Which place is cheaper, Podgorica or Ulaanbaatar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Podgorica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Podgorica? 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 Podgorica?
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.
Podgorica
Podgorica is Montenegro's capital city, and also its largest. Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, World War II destroyed much of this history, but there are a few Turkish remnants worth visiting. Podgorica's central location often makes the city a good starting point for day trips to coastal cities or mountain resorts.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia, The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Montenegro.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUlaanbaatar $25Podgorica $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $25, while the average daily cost in Podgorica is $112. 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 Podgorica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUlaanbaatar $12Podgorica $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUlaanbaatar $24Podgorica $98
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Podgorica
Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Podgorica? 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 Podgorica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ulaanbaatar $2.91Podgorica $21
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 Podgorica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Podgorica:
- Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Kotor Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Budva to Podgorica one way transfer: $118
- From One-Way Private Transfer to/from Virpazar: $57
- Kotor to Podgorica one way transfer: $205
- Podgorica airport: Private Transfer to/from Budva: $75
- Podgorica hotels to Kotor Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer to Budva: $39
- Private transfer to Kotor: $54
- Private transfer to Tivat: $54
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Bar : $98
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Herceg Novi: $156
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Lustica: $263
Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Podgorica?
Prices for flights to both Podgorica 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 $8.94Podgorica $43
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ulaanbaatar $4.42Podgorica $22
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 Podgorica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Podgorica are as follows:
- Skip The Line: National Park Skadar Lake - Tickets: $8.23
- Skadar lake - Falcon kayak tour: $13
- Boat Cruise Viktor Skadar LakeVirpazar Kom MonasteryVirpazar: $14
- Lake Skadar Grmozur Fortress and Monastery Cruise: $16
- Lake Skadar: Guided Sightseeing Boat Tour with Refreshments: $16
- Two Hours Sightseeing Lake Cruise at Montenegro National Park: $16
- Lake Skadar: Guided Panoramic Boat Tour to Kom Monastery : $22
- Podgorica City Walking Tour: $22
- From Virpazar: Guided Lake Skadar cruise and Crnojevića River: $33
- Book Your Tour Podgorica by walk: $36
- Book Your Tour Ostrog Monastery: $66
- Walking tour, all the secrets of Podgorica: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUlaanbaatar $3.83Podgorica $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Podgorica
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Podgorica:
- Private Wine Tasting Activity at Lipovac Winery: $27
- Book Your Wine Tour: $78
- Podgorica Car Trip - Architecture, History, Wine tasting, Churches, Doclea city: $98
- Wine tasting in the family winery, feel the spirit: $121
- Montenegro: Nature, Locals & Wine Tour: $129
- Full Day Private Podgorica Wine Tour Experience: $159
- Skadar lake boat ride through "Montenegrin Amazon", wine tasting & Niagara falls: $197
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Podgorica, we can see that Podgorica 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 Podgorica 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 Podgorica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Podgorica 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 Podgorica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ulaanbaatar or Podgorica?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Podgorica. When comparing the sizes of Ulaanbaatar and Podgorica, 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.