Mongolia is a cash-heavy country outside Ulaanbaatar. Our practical guide to using money in Mongolia: currency, exchanges, cards, ATMs, and how much to carry.
Oyungerel Enkhbat
MNT. Approximately 3,450 MNT to 1 USD, 3,850 MNT to 1 EUR. Bills come in 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 MNT. There is no 100,000 bill (confusingly, the highest is 20,000).
Best rate: TDB Bank, Golomt Bank, or Khan Bank. Also: State Department Store currency counter. Airport rate is poor. Change enough MNT on arrival to cover 2-3 days, then top up at UB banks.
Hotels, upscale restaurants, Rara Avis invoicing accept USD. Rural Mongolia is MNT-only. Small USD bills (1s, 5s, 20s) are ideal for tips. Large USD bills (100s) sometimes rejected because of concerns about forgery.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in UB hotels, nice restaurants, higher-end shops. Amex limited. Countryside is cash only. Tipping can be done by card in restaurants.
In UB: everywhere. Provincial capitals: usually one or two. Countryside villages: rarely. Our expedition tours bring sufficient cash for the whole trip. We can arrange cash delivery to major camps if needed.
For a premium Rara Avis trip (most costs pre-paid): 500 USD equivalent per person for 14 days covers shop purchases, tips, optional excursions, and contingency.
Restaurants: 10 percent in UB nice restaurants, not expected elsewhere. Taxis: round up. Guides: 10-15 USD per guide per guest per day. Drivers: 5-10 USD per driver per guest per day. Host families: we handle directly, no need to tip.
UB taxis: use UB Cab app or Bolt app. Meter-based, no need to haggle. Airport to city: 30,000-50,000 MNT. Our transfers are included.
Customs declares over 10,000 USD (or equivalent). No actual limit, just declaration. Keep declaration slip for departure.
QPay is the Mongolian equivalent of WeChat Pay. Increasingly everywhere in UB. Foreign travellers cannot register QPay without a Mongolian bank account. Use card or cash instead.