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

Should you visit Ulaanbaatar or Shiretoko National Park?

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

Should I visit Ulaanbaatar or Shiretoko National Park? 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 Shiretoko National Park?

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.

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.

While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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


Which place is cheaper, Shiretoko National Park or Ulaanbaatar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Ulaanbaatar Prices
    Mongolia Prices
    Shiretoko National Park Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Ulaanbaatar $30
    Shiretoko National Park $96

The average daily cost (per person) in Ulaanbaatar is $30, while the average daily cost in Shiretoko National Park is $96. 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 Shiretoko National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ulaanbaatar $11
    Shiretoko National Park $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ulaanbaatar $22
    Shiretoko National Park $68
Compare Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Shiretoko National Park

Looking for a hotel in Ulaanbaatar or Shiretoko National Park? 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 Shiretoko National Park


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 Shiretoko National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $2.79
    Shiretoko National Park $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:

  • ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
  • BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi: $23
  • Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer taxi in Ulaanbaatar: $30
  • Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36
  • Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $38
  • Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
  • New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
  • Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar City: $47
  • Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $51
  • Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar City : $51
  • Transfer service to Terelj national park : $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Ulaanbaatar or Shiretoko National Park?

Prices for flights to both Shiretoko National Park 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 $15
    Shiretoko National Park $45

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: $182

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ulaanbaatar $4.24
    Shiretoko National Park $15

Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar

Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Gobi Cashmere Flagship Store Shopping Tour: $35
  • Terelj national park transport /Best price tour: $36
  • Private custom walking tour with a local guide: $40
  • Secrets of the Mongol Script: 1-Hour Script Experience: $49
  • Genghis Khan Tour – Mongolia’s #1 Daily Escape: $50
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $52
  • Ulaanbaatar Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private): $52
  • From UB: Day Tour to Chinggis khaan statue and Terelj NP.: $58
  • From Chinggis Khaan Statue and Turtle Rock Day Tour: $59
  • Chinggis Khaan Statue and Turtle Rock Day Tour: $59
  • Private Tour drive to Chinggis Khan Statue & Terelj National Park: $60
  • Full Day Tour of Ulaanbaatar With Museum, Black-market Cashmere Factory Store: $62

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ulaanbaatar $3.67
    Shiretoko National Park $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ulaanbaatar and Shiretoko National Park, we can see that Shiretoko National Park is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shiretoko National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park Expensive?.


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