Mongolia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Mongolia can be done on a budget at about ₮215,000 per person per day (very roughly US$60), mainly by joining shared guesthouse tours and staying in simple gers. Ulaanbaatar itself is cheap; the cost is in getting out to the steppe.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₮60,000 | ₮150,000 | ₮350,000 |
| Food & drink | ₮40,000 | ₮70,000 | ₮140,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₮15,000 | ₮30,000 | ₮60,000 |
| Local transport | ₮100,000 | ₮300,000 | ₮600,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₮215,000 | ₮550,000 | ₮1,150,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mongolia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Sükhbaatar Square and the Chinggis Khaan statue at the Government Palace
- Watching monks chant at Gandan Monastery's courtyards (entry to the main temple is paid)
- Zaisan Memorial hill and its views over Ulaanbaatar
- The Naran Tuul (Black) Market, for browsing
- Hiking in the steppe around ger camps
- Stargazing anywhere outside the city
Cheap eats
- Buuz (steamed dumplings): about ₮5,000–10,000 a plate
- Khuushuur (fried pastries): about ₮2,000–4,000 each
- Tsuivan (fried noodles with mutton): about ₮8,000–12,000
- Suutei tsai (salty milk tea): about ₮1,000–2,000
- Set lunch in a guanz canteen: about ₮10,000–15,000
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses along Peace Avenue in Ulaanbaatar, at about ₮70,000–120,000 for a double or ₮25,000–40,000 for a dorm bed; many organise shared tours. In the countryside, basic gers with families or simple camps are the cheapest option.
Getting around cheaply
Shared tours or shared 4x4s are the cheapest way into the countryside. Long-distance public buses also leave from Ulaanbaatar's Dragon bus station to Kharkhorin and other towns for low fares. City buses cost about ₮500–1,000.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Gandan Monastery (about ₮5,000–8,000)
- Lunch: buuz in a guanz (about ₮10,000)
- Afternoon: Chinggis Khaan National Museum and Sükhbaatar Square
- Evening: khuushuur and a walk up Zaisan hill at sunset
- Total: about ₮215,000 including your share of a room and shared tour transport
More ways to save
- Travel in June or September for cheaper camps.
- Bring a sleeping bag; it makes basic gers more comfortable.
- Carry snacks and water bottles for long drives.
- Pay in tugrik where possible; card machines are rare outside cities.
- Ask guesthouses to match you with other travellers to fill a vehicle.
- Combine sights in one loop to cut driving days.
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Common questions
Can you visit Mongolia on a budget?
Yes, at about ₮215,000 a day per person, by joining shared guesthouse tours and staying in simple gers.
How can I find a shared tour in Mongolia?
Guesthouses on Peace Avenue in Ulaanbaatar often group travellers into 4x4s for shared tours.
Do you need a guide in Mongolia?
For most visitors, yes, or at least a driver: rural roads are unmarked and few people speak English.