Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Nagoya?
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 Nagoya or Ulaanbaatar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nagoya 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: Nagoya or Ulaanbaatar?
Nagoya
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!
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 Luxury Tours to Japan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
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Nagoya Prices
Japan PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNagoya $113Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagoya is $113, 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 Nagoya and Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNagoya $48Ulaanbaatar $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNagoya $96Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Nagoya and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Nagoya 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: Nagoya Hotel Prices and Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nagoya $12Ulaanbaatar $2.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagoya
Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Nagoya Station: $71
- Nagoya Private Transfer To or From Suzuka Service: $292
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) - Departure Private Transfer: $151
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport NGO, Departure Private Transfer: $91
- Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport: $208
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO): $285
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Cruise Port: $201
- Private Transfer between Chubu Centrair Int'l Airport and Nagoya: $296
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Airport (NGO) to Toyama Port: $235
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Airport (NGO): $201
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels: $126
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels: $139
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 Nagoya or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar and Nagoya 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 dayNagoya $49Ulaanbaatar $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Nagoya Night Bar & Food Tour with Locals 【Private Tour】: $59
- Osu Kannon Temple & Street Food Tour in Nagoya's Osu District: $83
- Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour: $159
- Traditional Ukai Watching Private Tour from Nagoya With Dinner: $221
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.Nagoya $13Ulaanbaatar $4.24
Tours and Activities in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ramen Making Experience: $38
- Experience Being a Shinto Priest or Shrine Maiden at NAGOYA: $45
- English-Guided Jogging Tour of the City (2 hours): $50
- Shirakawago and Takayama Bus Tour from Nagoya: $58
- Hida Takayama & Shirakawa-go Bus Tour w/Optional Lunch: $59
- Shiragawa-go, Hida Takayama UNESCO Full-Day Tour from Nagoya: $61
- Nagoya Castle Private Guided Tour: $64
- Gujo, Hida Takayama, and Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Nagoya: $65
- Shirakawa-go + Hida Takayama Day Tour from Nagoya Station: $66
- Nagoya Tour in Inuyama Castle, Ena George, Magome and Tsumagojuku: $68
- Private Japanese Martial Arts and Samurai Experience in Gifu: $68
- Legoland Resort ticket in Japan : $69
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 dayNagoya $13Ulaanbaatar $3.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
- The Nagoya Restaurant and Bar Crawl: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagoya and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Nagoya 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 Nagoya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagoya 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 Nagoya Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nagoya or Ulaanbaatar?
Nagoya has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ulaanbaatar. When comparing the sizes of Nagoya 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.