Mongolia, the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky, offers vast steppes, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture unchanged for centuries. Experience horseback riding across endless grasslands, stay in traditional gers, and witness the ancient traditions of eagle hunting and throat singing.
Local currency: Mongolian Tögrög (MNT, ₮). Approximate rate: $1 USD = ₮3,550 MNT (check current rate before travel)..
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Mongolia.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- ₮25,000-50,000 ($7-14) dorm bed
- Budget
- ₮100,000-180,000 ($28-50) private room guesthouse
- Midrange
- ₮200,000-400,000 ($56-112) 3-star hotel
- Luxury
- ₮600,000-1,200,000 ($168-336) 5-star hotel or luxury ger camp
Food
- Street
- ₮3,000-7,000 ($1-2) guanz canteen or market stall
- Local
- ₮8,000-15,000 ($2-4) local restaurant
- Midrange
- ₮20,000-50,000 ($6-14) mid-range restaurant
- Fine
- ₮60,000-200,000 ($17-56) fine dining
Transport
- Bus
- ₮500 ($0.14) city bus per ride
- Taxi
- ₮15,000-30,000 ($4-8) average city taxi ride
- Airport
- ₮15,000 ($4) public bus or ₮100,000-150,000 ($28-42) taxi
- Daytrip
- ₮50,000-200,000 ($14-56) organized day tour
Activities
- Museum
- ₮10,000-20,000 ($3-6) most museums
- Sites
- ₮10,000-30,000 ($3-8) national parks and monuments
- Tour
- ₮90,000-200,000 ($25-56) half-day guided tour
- Excursion
- ₮280,000-700,000 ($78-196) multi-day Gobi or country excursion
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Mongolia costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
₮250,000/week ($70) for very basic travel with guesthouse accommodation, guanz dining, and public transport
Midrange traveller
₮840,000/week ($235) for comfortable hotels, mixed dining, and organized day tours
Luxury traveller
₮2,800,000+/week ($785+) for luxury hotels, fine dining, and private tours throughout
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat at guanz (local canteens) for meals under ₮8,000 ($2) — set meals include soup, a main dish, and sometimes bread. Look for hand-written signs and plastic stools.
Use the public bus system (₮500/$0.14 per ride) instead of taxis for city travel — routes cover all major areas
Book countryside tours directly through guesthouses rather than hotel tour desks to cut out significant commission markups
Visit Narantuul Market for souvenirs rather than tourist shops — prices are 50-70% lower for the same cashmere products
Consider self-catering accommodation with kitchen access for some meals — Ulaanbaatar has excellent supermarkets
Travel during shoulder season (May or September-October) for lower accommodation rates and fewer crowds
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Sükhbaatar Square
The heart of Ulaanbaatar is free to visit and surrounded by important monuments and government buildings. Evening illumination makes for excellent photography.
Zaisan Memorial
Free Soviet-era war memorial on a hilltop with the best panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar. Involves 300 steps for rewarding city and mountain panoramas.
Gandantegchinlen Monastery Grounds
Walking the monastery grounds (exterior) is free. A small fee applies for entering the main temple with the 26m golden Buddha statue.
Narantuul Market Browsing
Entry to Mongolia's largest market is free. Worth visiting just to experience the authentic bustle of everyday Mongolian commerce even without buying anything.
Terelj National Park Entry Point
The area immediately around the park entrance is free to visit. Park fees ($3) only apply for deeper entry. Turtle Rock and basic walks accessible without fees.
Ulaanbaatar River Walk
The Tuul River riverside walk through Ulaanbaatar offers green space, local life, and mountain views completely free. Popular with locals for morning exercise.