Mongolia: Daily expenses

How much money will you need for daily expenses in Mongolia?

The answer depends on how you like to travel, some days you might trek in the countryside and on other days you may take a taxi to the theatre. Given the choices on offer, the costs associated can vary.

The average daily cost for sightseeing, transport, food and entertainment is ₮32,000 Tugriks, which is around $13 US dollars at the time of writing this article.

Where can you get Tugriks? Only in Mongolia. And you should get them as soon as you arrive as not many places accept credit or debit cards. Don’t get too many as you will not be able to exchange them back. US dollars are the easiest currency to exchange.

You can find ATMs easily in the city but you could struggle to find them in smaller towns. Avoid standing unbranded ATMs as they’ve been known to swallow a card or two.

Tipping in restaurants and cafes is not expected but appreciated, 10% of the bill is a reasonable amount. Most eateries charge a 13% sales tax on top of the menu prices so be aware of this when you order.

See the table below for itemised costs.