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

Should you visit Nagasaki or Ulaanbaatar?

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

Should I visit Nagasaki or Ulaanbaatar? 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: Nagasaki or Ulaanbaatar?

Nagasaki

Set in a natural harbor on the northwest coast of Japan, Nagasaki is a Japanese city synonymous with a key moment during WWII after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in 1945. While the event is memorialized at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the city in no way is defined by the event. Today it exists as a culturally and religiously diverse port town with a certain charm amongst the terraces of surrounding hills.

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 The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.


Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Nagasaki?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Nagasaki is $114, 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 Nagasaki and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nagasaki $49
    Ulaanbaatar $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nagasaki $98
    Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Nagasaki and Ulaanbaatar

Looking for a hotel in Nagasaki 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.

Hotels in Nagasaki


Hotels in Ulaanbaatar


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: Nagasaki Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nagasaki $19
    Ulaanbaatar $2.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagasaki

Also for Nagasaki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Nagasaki City to Nagasaki International Airport Private Departure Transfer: $196
  • Nagasaki International Airport to Nagasaki City Private Arrival Transfer: $196
  • Private Transfer from Nagasaki Airport (NGS) to Nagasaki Port: $117

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:

  • VIP Airport Transfer-Cadillac Escalade (6 Passengers+6 Luggage): $266
  • ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
  • Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
  • Transfer service to Terelj national park : $51
  • Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $51
  • Private Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to or from Terelj National Park: $60
  • Private Transfer from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Ulaanbaatar: $38
  • Private Transfer Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN to Ulaanbaatar City : $51
  • Private Airport Transfer taxi in Ulaanbaatar: $30
  • New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Transfer Service: $45
  • Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar City: $47
  • Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Nagasaki or Ulaanbaatar?

Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Nagasaki 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
    Nagasaki $50
    Ulaanbaatar $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagasaki

For Nagasaki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking with a Local Okaasan at Kominka in Ojika Island Nagasaki: $41
  • Sunset Beach Dinner: $53

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.
    Nagasaki $23
    Ulaanbaatar $4.24

Tours and Activities in Nagasaki

For Nagasaki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Nagasaki GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $12
  • Gunkanjima Digital Museum Attraction Ticket: $13
  • Discover Stunning Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Private Ring Craft Experience in Nagasaki: $23
  • Experience farming (rice cultivation) in terraced rice paddies: $38
  • Private Fishing and Dining Experience in Ojika Japan: $45
  • Traditional Kimono Experience in Nagasaki: $55
  • Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
  • Terraced Rice Paddy Restaurant and Rural Experience: $61
  • Finding Local Cats and Hidden Alleys of Nagasaki Walking Tour: $62
  • Mochitsuki Rice Cake Making Experience in Ojika Island: $78
  • Nagasaki Gyoza&Soy Sauce Ramen Culinary Experience: $83

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nagasaki $11
    Ulaanbaatar $3.67


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagasaki and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nagasaki or Ulaanbaatar?

Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Nagasaki. When comparing the sizes of Nagasaki 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.

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