Mongolia Travel Budget - Visit Mongolia on a Budget or Travel in Style


How much does it cost to travel to Mongolia?

You should plan to spend around $26 (₮88,795) per day on your vacation in Mongolia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $8.23 (₮27,791) on meals
  • $2.93 (₮9,915) on local transportation
  • $22 (₮74,190) on hotels

A one week trip to Mongolia for two people costs, on average, $368 (₮1,243,131). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $26
    88,795
  • One Week Per person
    $184
    621,565
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $368
    1,243,131
  • One Month Per person
    $789
    2,663,852
  • One Week For a couple
    $368
    1,243,131
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $736
    2,486,262
  • One Month For a couple
    $1,577
    5,327,704
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Mongolia cost?

A one week trip to Mongolia usually costs around $184 (₮621,565) for one person and $368 (₮1,243,131) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Mongolia on average costs around $368 (₮1,243,131) for one person and $736 (₮2,486,262) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Mongolia will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Mongolia on average costs around $789 (₮2,663,852) for one person and $1,577 (₮5,327,704) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




How much do package tours cost in Mongolia?

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Mongolia is $309 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.



Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Mongolia expensive to visit?

Mongolia is a very affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 10% of countries in the world for its affordability. Many budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring this country in depth.

Within Asia, Mongolia is very affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 10% of countries in Asia for its affordability. Very few countries in the region are as affordable as Mongolia.

For more details, see Is Mongolia Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Mongolia?

The average Mongolia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Mongolia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) 74,190 ($22)
Local Transportation 1 9,915 ($2.93)
Food 2 27,791 ($8.23)
Entertainment 1 14,219 ($4.21)
Tips and Handouts 1 5,414 - 16,242 ($2 - 5)
Alcohol 2 6,708 - 20,125 ($2 - 6)
Accommodation Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Mongolia is $11 (₮37,095). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Mongolia is $22 (₮74,190). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $11
    37,095
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $22
    74,190

Hotel Prices in Mongolia

Looking for a hotel in Mongolia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Mongolia based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $51. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Local Transportation Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Mongolia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $2.93 (₮9,915) per person, per day, on local transportation in Mongolia.


  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $2.93
    9,915

Recommended Services


Food Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Mongolia can vary, the average cost of food in Mongolia is $8.23 (₮27,791) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Mongolia should cost around $3.29 (₮11,116) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mongolia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $8.23
    27,791

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Mongolia typically cost an average of $4.21 (₮14,219) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $4.21
    14,219

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Mongolia is $3.21 (₮10,828) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Mongolia is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $3.21
    10,828


Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Mongolia is $0.37 (₮1,250), as reported by travelers.


  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    $0.37
    1,250


Alcohol Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $3.97 (₮13,417) on alcoholic beverages in Mongolia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $3.97
    13,417


Water Budget in Mongolia
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.86 (₮2,908) on bottled water in Mongolia per day. The public water in Mongolia is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.86
    2,908


Mongolia On a Budget
Mongolia Camping in Mongolia
Mongolia is best described as the world's largest campground. It's low population density, nomadic culture, and lack of infrastructure mean it offers a unique experience that is centered around outdoor living and breathtaking scenery. It's a surprisingly diverse country with landscapes that range from the desert to the steppe and the lake regions in the north. Mongolia has an untouched, pristine feel that gives you the impression that you've stepped into a country untouched by modern technology. The people are incredibly welcoming, proud, and impressive in their adaptability. One night you can experience sleeping in a Ger (or Yurt) with a local family while you sip some camel milk tea. The next night you'll sleep under the open sky with more stars than you ever imagined possible. Winter months are incredibly cold and harsh, so it's best to visit during the short summer months. You could also time your visit to overlap with the annual Nadam Festival. The Nadam Festival is a national event that includes games, sports, and activities. The largest component is held in the capital city of Ulaan Batar, but smaller towns also host their own versions throughout the country. If you do plan to visit during the Nadam Festival, it's important to make reservations in advance. This is easily the most popular time to visit Mongolia, and the crowds will be at a peak. While very few tourists actually visit Mongolia, those that do almost always come during the warmer summer months. You'll likely find a concentration of travelers in Ulaan Batar either planning their trip or recently returning from their trip.

The people of Mongolia are some of the most lovely and welcoming people you are likely to encounter. Despite living a subsistence life, they are incredibly proud and accomplished people. Get to Mongolia now, because it won't be long before it's no longer an undiscovered destination.

Mongolia is generally a very cheap destination. You essentially need to do a tour as there is almost no internal transportation infrastructure. This means independent travel is virtually impossible unless you provide your own vehicle and know where to go without roads. Public transportation is extremely minimal, also. Tours vary in price depending on the length of the trip, the number of people, the comfort level, and the tour company you book through. It's easy to join a tour once you arrive in the country. This is the best way to ensure your costs are reasonable. It does require some flexibility as you need to find a group going to the places you hope to see in the same time frame you're hoping to take. Every hotel, hostel, and guest house in Mongolia will either organize their own tours or hook you up with a tour company. You need not look very far to find one.
At A Glance
  • It is almost essential that you do a tour while you're in Mongolia. There is almost no public transportation and roads in many parts of the country are little more than tire tracks. You can organize your tour after you arrive in Ulaan Batar. Hostels in the capital city are usually the best place to organize everything. If you're in the country during the summer months then you likely won't have any trouble finding people to join your trip.

  • Tours through Mongolia can range dramatically in length. Most people choose to do a 7 to 10 day tour as this allows enough time to get outside of the immediate vicinity around Ulaan Batar, but is still not too time consuming. If you're hoping to see more of the country you'll need at least two or three weeks. It may be more challenging to find others to join your tour if you go for this longer time period, but it will be well worth the effort as you will see so much more. Here is an overview of the tour we took with all of our fantastic experiences.

  • Before leaving for your tour it is a good idea to stock up on snack food. Most guides prepare food for travelers and although the food can be quite good, it can sometimes become monotonous. You'll appreciate having snacks with you during your time outside of the city.

  • It's not necessary to bring any camping equipment with you as most travel agencies will provide it free of charge. Do check the quality of the equipment prior to your departure though to make sure no parts are missing.

  • Be prepared to camp. Even though you may spend several nights in ger camps, these are still little more than tents with cots. (Here's what it's like to stay in a Ger Camp.) Weather conditions vary dramatically throughout Mongolia so be prepared for almost anything. That's likely what you'll get.

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Top Tourist Attractions
Erdene Zuu Khiid: This is the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. It is located in Kharkhorin (the 2nd largest town) and has between 60 and 100 temples on its complex. It also has about 300 gers inside its walls where monks reside. At its peak it housed about 1000 monks. It's a great place to visit if you want to learn more about religion in Mongolia.

Khovsgol Nuur: This beautiful lake is surrounded by breathtaking mountains. It's located in the north of Mongolia and is the largest lake in the country. It's also the third largest lake in the area. It's an absolutely beautiful, although difficult, place to visit.

Mandshir Khiid: Just an hour outside of Ulaan Batar, this famous monastery is in a beautiful setting. It provides a home to 350 monks and is a pleasant place to visit. It's easily accessible and is a good stop off while you're in the country.

Popular Foods
People generally don't visit Mongolia for its cuisine. The traditional dishes are usually meat and potato based and there is very little seasoning added. In Ulaan Batar you'll find plenty of western style restaurants that serve all different types of food. When you're out in the countryside you'll more likely be dining on stew like dishes that are made with lamb, potatoes and tomatoes.

Buuz: These are the Mongolian version of steamed dumplings. They are filled with meat, most often lamb and flavored with seasoning. They're often prepared for celebrations or during the Nadam Festival. They're a favorite around the country and one of the most delicious Mongolian dishes available.

Guriltai Shol: This is a noodle, meat, and vegetable stew that is common throughout the country. It makes for a hearty and filling meal. It is often well cooked and seasoned with garlic and onions.

Airag: This national drink is made from fermented mare's milk. It has a very distinct flavor and should be sipped with caution. It's usually offered to visitors after arrival in a Ger. Although alcoholic in nature, do not attempt to get drunk off of this drink as it does not have enough alcohol and your bowels will not be happy about it.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.