Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Jakarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Jakarta or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Ulaanbaatar. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Jakarta or Ulaanbaatar?
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $73Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $73, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $30. 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 Jakarta and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $32Ulaanbaatar $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $64Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Ulaanbaatar? 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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $20Ulaanbaatar $2.79
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta ( Private Transfer ): $18
- Airport Private Transfer Jakarta, Best Price: $19
- Airport Transfer: $30
- Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
- Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
- All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer : $20
- BEST PRICE Private Airport Transfer per CAR with Tax & Insurance (Oneway): $30
- Departure Private Transfer: Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK: $113
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer: $72
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Cipanas - Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
- Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK in Business Van: $113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- VIP Airport Transfer-Cadillac Escalade (6 Passengers+6 Luggage): $266
- Airport Private Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
- Transfer service to Terelj national park : $51
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $51
- Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar City : $51
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar City: $47
- New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
- Airport - Ulaanbaatar transfer service: $40
- Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $38
- Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36
- Private Airport Transfer taxi in Ulaanbaatar: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Jakarta 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 dayJakarta $28Ulaanbaatar $15
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.62
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Dinner$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $12Ulaanbaatar $4.24
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $29
- Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
- Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide : $37
- Jakarta Walking Tour with Public Transportation Visiting Sites: $45
- Jakarta Half Day Visit The Monument with Highlight City Tour: $45
- Jakarta Half Day Shared Guided Tour Visit Monument and Old Town: $49
- Pasar Baru Foodie Tour: $49
- Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $50
- Jakarta Half-Day Highlights Tour: $50
- Half Day Jakarta Private Tour in two highlight place: $50
- 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Private Tour in Terelj: $177
- Private Tandem Paragliding Experience at Bayanzurkh Mountain: $100
- 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
- 1 Day City Tour with All-Museum Private Tour With Free Admission: $90
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Genghis Khan Statue Complex and Terelj (FREE dog sledding): $163
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour : $146
- 1 Day Terelj Tour from Ulaanbaatar : $250
- 1 Day Tour: Khustai National Park: $206
- 1 Day tour: Khustai National Park: Przewalski's wild horses: $190
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $380
- 2 Day Manzushir Temple and Terelj National Park Tour overnight at nomad family: $266
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $4.06Ulaanbaatar $3.67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Jakarta 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 Jakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jakarta 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Ulaanbaatar?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Ulaanbaatar, 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.