In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Mongolia - any experiences?
I stayed in Ulaanbaatar for a couple weeks and daily costs were low. Lunches with dumplings were $4, dinners $12, and taxis never more than $Tips were light, 10%. My daily average was $35. When I went on a Gobi tour, though, costs shot up to $65 daily, including Ger stays and food. Mongolia is one of those countries where city life is cheap, but real exploration is pricey. For planning, $40-50 daily is a fair middle ground.
Meals: $4-6 casual, $10-15 restaurant. Transport: $0.30 buses, $3 taxis. Tips: 5-10%. Safe daily budget: $30-35 in cities, $60-70 during tours. Most travellers average both, so $45 daily across a month is realistic. For long stays, tours dominate costs, while daily living is incredibly cheap. For planning, $1,300-1,500 per month is safe.
I averaged $40 daily in Ulaanbaatar and small towns. Meals were $5-8, restaurant dinners $10-15, and taxis $3-Tips were 10%. On days I joined horse treks or Ger stays, I paid $60-70 including meals and guides. At this budget, I could eat well, tip generously, and explore comfortably. Mongolia feels cheap compared to Europe, but tours are unavoidable if you want to see landscapes beyond the city.
Mongolia is great for low daily costs, but distances and tours raise the spend. In Ulaanbaatar, local meals are $3-5, and sit-down dinners $8-10. Taxis are $2-4, and buses $0.30. Tips aren’t huge, 5-10%. You can live on $20-25 daily in the city. Outside, most travellers join tours for the steppe and Gobi, which cost $50-80 daily. For basic food, local rides, and tips, Mongolia is very affordable, but nature trips are where your budget jumps.