Why the Trans-Mongolian Beats the Trans-Siberian
The Trans-Mongolian line links Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, and Moscow in one epic 7,621 km arc. It is cheaper, shorter, and far more culturally diverse than the classic Trans-Siberian. Russian Railways RZD and China Railway publish open tariffs; anyone can buy the same low price regardless of nationality. The trick is stringing third-class platskart bunks, free border stops, and low Mongolian prices into a daily budget of USD 40.
Understand the Route and Distance
- Beijing – Datong – Jining – Erlian (China)
- Erlian – Zamyn-Üüd – Ulaanbaatar – Sainshand (Mongolia)
- Ulan-Ude – Irkutsk – Novosibirsk – Yekaterinburg – Moscow (Russia)
Total ride time in one go: 130–135 hrs. Smart budget travelers hop off, making 7–10 day journeys the norm.
Daily Budget Breakdown
| Item | USD Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Train bed (platskart) | 12–15 | Third-class lying-down ticket |
| Food & water | 8–10 | Stove-carriage hot meals, station markets |
| City beds (hostels & guesthouses) | 7–9 | Shared dorms in UB, Irkutsk, Moscow outskirts |
| Local transport & sights | 5–7 | Marshrutka, metro, temple entrances |
| Total average | 35–40 | Leaves a small cushion for souvenirs |
Best Time to Go Cheap
Late-October to early-December or mid-January to early-March offer rock-bottom fares and empty carriages. Summer (June–August) sees 30–40 % price spikes; avoid if your budget is fixed.
Step-By-Step Visa Plan
Russia
Russian e-visa for the Far Eastern Federal District covers Vladivostok and Ulan-Ude but not Moscow. Take a full tourist visa: USD 70 through a processing agency or a consulate appointment.
Mongolia
30-day e-visa at https://evisa.mn is USD 50. Overland entry at Zamyn-Üüd exempts US, German and Canadian passport holders from a visa for up to 30 days at no charge (check MFA Mongolia for updates).
China
Most travelers fly into Beijing or Guangzhou. A 144-hour transit-without-visa is free if you exit to Mongolia. Save the USD 140 single-entry visa fee by flying into the Beijing Capital region and boarding the train within six days.
Buying Tickets Dirt-Cheap
Official Sites & Counters
- China: 12306.cn, C-trip app with English interface
- Mongolia: UBTZ booking office in Ulaanbaatar train station, cash only (MNT)
- Russia: pass.rzd.ru, select "platskart" and non-refundable tariff
Typical Cross-Border Prices
- Beijing – Ulaanbaatar (hard sleeper): USD 29
- Ulaanbaatar – Irkutsk (platskart): USD 19
- Irkutsk – Moscow (platskart): USD 35
Buy separately to avoid commercial tour mark-ups. Advance booking is only critical for July peak; otherwise 24-hour notice works.
Free Stopovers That Save Money and Add Culture
Datong (China)
Get off the K3/K23 train after Beijing. Free Yungang Grottoes visit on first Mondays if you flash a foreign passport. Sleep in 12-bed hostel for USD 8.
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia’s capital is ideal for two nights. Day buses to Terelj National Park cost USD 2 one way and the park entrance is free. Many hostels offer free bicycles.
Ulan-Ude
World’s largest Lenin head and home-cooked Buryat dumplings for USD 2.5 per filling plate. Overnight at the ibis-style Baklazhan mini-hotel for USD 9.
Irkutsk & Listvyanka
Walk the Angara river embankment; catch marshrutka-512 to Listvyanka village for USD 1.5. Lake Baikal ice-skating is free in March.
Food Strategy: Eat Cheap, Eat Well
- Pack instant oats, vacuum dried beans, and an immersion heater. Each platskart carriage has hot water samovars.
- Platform food: Buy fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, smoked omul fish from Lake Baikal platform hawkers at every 20-minute stop. Negotiate down to USD 1.50 per fish.
- Restaurant-car: Hearty borscht and bread USD 2.50; vegetarian rice plate USD 1.5. Menu in Russian and Chinese.
Free Wi-Fi, Showers, and Power Sockets
Third-class does not promise sockets at every bed, yet most carriages have two power strips per compartment. Charge power banks during the day. Free Wi-Fi appears at major stations (Beijing South, Ulaanbaatar, Irkutsk). Bring offline entertainment.
Money-Saving Packing List
- Mug: Cut tea prices by half; mountain tea sold loose on the train.
- Silk sleeping liner: Personal sheet—hostels charge USD 1–2 for towel rental.
- Multicurrency card: Wise or Revolut eliminate ATM withdrawal fees across China, Mongolia, Russia.
- Flip-flops: Essential for shared showers in platskart.
Handling Border Crossings Without Panic
Erlian – Zamyn-Üüd Crossing (China→Mongolia)
The train brakes for two hours. Border police collect passports in bulk; stay on the train. Hot water stays on. A couple with thermoses sells spicy instant noodles for USD 1—a good deal when the restaurant car is disconnected.
Naushki – Sukhbaatar – Naushki Crossing (Mongolia→Russia)
Often performed at 3 a.m.; conductors will wake you. Customs form is bilingual Russian/Mongolian. Agree to nothing above the free baggage allowance. Expect sniffer dogs.
Getting Free Showers
Trans-Mongolian trains lack private showers. Instead, book one night in Ulaanbaatar or Irkutsk hostels just to shower and wash clothes; total cost USD 6 if you pick the 10-bed dorm.
Common Budget Traps and How to Dodge Them
- Scam taxi at Moscow Yaroslavsky station: Take Aeroexpress + metro for USD 3 total instead.
- Overpriced Russian SIM at the station: Megafon kiosk inside the train hall sells 5 GB for USD 4.
- Tour desk in Ulaanbaatar advertising “Ger Stay $60”: Walk to the Dragon Bus Terminal, catch the public bus MX-23 to Gorkhi-Terelj for USD 2 and stay in guesthouse gers for USD 8 without a tour mark-up.
Extending the Journey West: Moscow to Helsinki for Pennies
Moscow to Helsinki by Megabus Viking Line ferry combo can cost USD 22 when booked 30 days ahead. Sail Turku–Stockholm sleeper ferry for EUR 19 or less on quieter Tuesday nights.
Sample 7-Night Shoestring Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Beijing, sleep in 365 Inn (USD 9)
Day 2: Day train to Datong, Yungang Grottoes (free), night train to Erlian
Day 3: Cross to Mongolia, reach Ulaanbaatar, hostel (USD 7)
Day 4: Terelj National Park day trip with packed picnic (USD 5 inc. transport)
Day 5: Night platskart to Irkutsk (USD 19)
Day 6: Lake Baikal walking tour and ferry (USD 4)
Day 7: Train to Moscow, total on-day spend: USD 35
Staying Safe on the Road
- Theft: Stash passport/money in a neck pouch under the blankets when you sleep in platskart. Keep phone in a zip pocket.
- Contaminated water: Fill your bottle at each carriage samovar; the water is boiled by the crew every stop.
- Altitude & cold: The plateau after Ulaanbaatar hits 1,600 m, carry a zip hoodie even in July.
Last-Minute Checklist Before Boarding
- Print all train ticket QR codes (Russia scan requires barcode).
- Exchange USD 20 into Tugrik and Rubles at Mongolian black-market kiosks beside the UB station for the best rate.
- Install offline maps: Maps.me for Mongolia and Yandex Maps for Russia.
- Take the March 2023 schedule from RZD official website and a screenshot of previous year prices for haggling with scalpers.
Disclaimer and Source Note
Tariffs and exchange rates fluctuate daily. This article is based on publicly listed fares from China Railway kyfw.12306.cn, RZD pass.rzd.ru, and the Mongolian UBTZ tariff bulletin of February 2024. All price quotes are rounded to the nearest dollar. Always check the latest embassy websites for visa rules; rules can change overnight. Article generated by an AI travel journalist for educational purposes. Verify anything that matters with an official source before you ride the rails.