Budget & Costs
What does Mongolia cost?
Mongolia is among the cheapest travel countries in Asia in terms of accommodation and food. The major costs arise from the organized Jeep tours, which are the only reasonable way to travel the country outside the capital.
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Suutei Tsai (Milk Tea) in a local spot | 500–1,000 MNT (0.15–0.30€) |
| Buuz (Dumplings, 6 pieces) | 3.000–5.000 MNT (0.80–1.30€) |
| Lunch in a restaurant (UB) | 8.000–15.000 MNT (2–4€) |
| Dinner in a restaurant (UB) | 15.000–30.000 MNT (4–8€) |
| Beer (Chinggis, 0.5l) | 3.000–5.000 MNT (0.80–1.30€) |
| Hostel dorm (UB) | 25.000–40.000 MNT (7–11€) |
| Mid-range hotel room (UB) | 100.000–200.000 MNT (26–53€) |
| Ger camp per night | 50.000–150.000 MNT (13–40€) |
| Domestic flight (UB → Dalanzadgad) | 100–200€ one-way |
| Gobi tour (7 days, shared, 4 people) | 500–800€/person |
| Gobi tour (7 days, private, 2 people) | 900–1.500€/person |
Budget Levels
Backpacker / Budget (25–45€ per day)
Hostels in Ulaanbaatar (from 7€/night), cheap Mongolian snacks and canteens (Guanz), shared Jeep tours with other travelers from the hostel, occasional overnight stays with nomads (20–25€ with food). This is the classic Mongolian backpacker style — tough, authentic, and unforgettable. In UB, you can get by on 15–20€/day, on tour costs rise to 50–80€/day.
Mid-range Tour (70–130€ per day)
Hotels in UB, comfortable Ger camps on tour (with beds, shared toilets, warm meals), private or semi-private Jeep with driver and English-speaking guide. This is the most popular travel style: comfortable enough for most, without losing the spirit of adventure.
Comfort / Luxury (150–300€+ per day)
Luxury Ger camps like Three Camel Lodge (Gobi) or HS Khaan Resort (Terelj) with private bathrooms, gourmet cuisine, and designer yurts. Private tours with top-notch guides, domestic flights instead of long drives. In recent years, Mongolia has created some outstanding luxury accommodations that combine wilderness experience with comfort.
Tipp
The biggest savings in Mongolia: find travel companions! In the hostel in Ulaanbaatar (Golden Gobi, UB Guesthouse, Sunpath Mongolia) there are bulletin boards with tour offers where you can find fellow travelers. With four people in a Jeep, you only pay a quarter of the private price per person. Plan 2–3 days in UB to assemble a group.
Savings Tips
With these strategies, you can get the most out of your budget:
- Share Jeep tours: By far the most important tip. A Jeep with a driver and guide costs the same for 1 or 4 people. With four people, you pay about 500–600€ for a 10-day Gobi tour instead of 1,500€.
- Eat cheaply in UB: Mongolian canteens (Guanz) serve a plate of Tsuivan or Buuz for 3,000–5,000 MNT (under 1.50€). Western restaurants cost three times as much.
- Stay with nomads instead of in a Ger camp: An overnight stay in a nomad family's Ger (20,000–30,000 MNT / 5–8€ per person, with food) is cheaper and a hundred times more authentic than a Ger camp (50,000–150,000 MNT). Your guide will arrange this.
- Local tour providers: Booking on-site in UB is cheaper than through Western agencies. Sunpath Mongolia, Happy Camel, and Gobi Tour offer fair prices and good reviews.
- Book domestic flights early: The flight UB → Dalanzadgad (Gobi) costs about 100€ if booked early and saves you 2 hard travel days. Last minute: 200€+.
- Negotiate at the Narantuul Market: Ulaanbaatar's huge market (formerly "Black Market") has everything — from cashmere to souvenirs. Prices are negotiable, start at 50% of the initial offer.
- Save on water: Buy water bottles in large 5-liter canisters in UB instead of individual 0.5l bottles. On tour, your guide will supply water — check this beforehand!
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