Apartment Rentals in Ulaanbaatar: A Local Expert’s Guide to Staying Smart in UB

If you are searching for an apartment rental in Ulaanbaatar, you have probably already noticed that the options are overwhelming and the advice online is thin, outdated, or written by people who have never actually lived here. This guide is different. We have been hosting guests in Ulaanbaatar for years, and everything we share here comes from firsthand experience, the kind of knowledge a well-connected local friend would give you over tea, not a generic travel blog post.
We also happen to manage a small collection of hand-picked furnished apartments in the best locations in the city. But before we get to that, let us help you understand Ulaanbaatar so you can make genuinely informed decisions about where to stay, what to expect, and how to navigate the city like someone who actually knows it. Continue below.

Understanding Ulaanbaatar’s Apartment Types

Knowing the difference between building types will help you evaluate any listing you come across, not just ours.

Soviet-Era Apartments

CHINESE BUILT BUILDINGS. The most common older apartments you will encounter fall into two categories. The first are the 40-Myangat and 50-Myangat buildings; very old, Chinese-built, three to four-story structures typically found near Ikh Delguur and along the central roads heading north toward the Government Palace. They have thick brick walls hold heat well and their central locations are genuinely convenient. However, the plumbing is aged, sound insulation between floors is poor, and a significant number of these buildings were classified as structurally high-risk in a 2013 JICA study, partly because ground-floor units were frequently converted into shops with load-bearing walls removed.

RUSSIAN BUILT BUILDINGS. The 2nd category is much stronger and better apartment blocks built by the Russians and Mongolian joint teams during Soviet time, typically five-story and nine-story concrete buildings. These are structurally stronger and generally regarded as higher quality. They are found on both sides of the old Circus building and throughout the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th Khoroolols. Units tend to be spacious, with large separate kitchens. Five-story buildings have no elevator; nine-story buildings do.

New High-Rise Buildings

Modern high-rise apartments in Ulaanbaatar are typically part of gated compounds with secure entrances, intercom systems, elevators, resident parking, and security personnel at the gate. The most prestigious concentration of these buildings runs from the Camels Statue intersection to the International School of UB, including the newer developments surrounding Naadam Stadium. Select complexes in Yarmag also fall into this category. These are the safest and most amenity-rich options in the city, though they command higher rental prices.

Rental Prices and Seasonal Trends in Ulaanbaatar

Pricing follows a clear geographic logic: the closer to Peace Avenue and Chinggis Khan Avenue, the higher the rent. This is true for both short-term and long-term rentals, as well as property sale prices.
June through August is peak season. July is particularly competitive because of Naadam, and finding well-located short-term accommodation during that month without advance planning is genuinely difficult. If you are visiting for Naadam, book several months ahead. Winter brings discounts on short-term stays, especially for bookings of more than one week, but centrally located properties remain in demand year-round. Thus, do not count on dramatic off-season price drops for the best locations.

What No One Tells You About Utilities in Ulaanbaatar

Tap Water

Tap water in Ulaanbaatar is not recommended for drinking directly. Most local households boil their tap water before consumption, and many filter it first. Bottled water is widely available and inexpensive.

The Summer Hot Water Shutdown

This surprises almost every first-time visitor. A hot water outage lasting one to three weeks every summer is normal, not a malfunction. Ulaanbaatar runs a centralized district water system, and since construction and maintenance work can only realistically happen between June and August (the only window before the harsh winter sets in), the city schedules all infrastructure maintenance during this period. Shutdown schedules are announced in advance by neighborhood. We post the annual Summer Hot Water Maintenance Schedule on our website as soon as the city releases it, so our guests are never caught off guard.

Heating Season

Central heating in Ulaanbaatar runs from September 15 through May 15. If you are arriving in late May, be aware that you will be just outside the heated season. Pack accordingly or confirm that your apartment has independent heating.

Safety in Ulaanbaatar: An Honest Assessment

Ulaanbaatar is, in our experience, one of the safer capital cities in the world. That assessment comes not from marketing copy but from firsthand experience living in four different countries and traveling across Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Violent crime against tourists is rare.
That said, petty crime exists. Pickpocketing and bag snatching in poorly lit areas do occur. If you give an opportunity, someone may take it. Stay aware of your belongings on buses, in shopping malls, and in crowded public spaces.
Walking alone after dark carries some risk, particularly for solo women. Drunk men or groups of rowdy teenagers can be unpredictable, and being visibly foreign can attract unwanted attention in those situations. We strongly recommend not walking alone at night, and for solo female travelers especially, pre-arranged transport after evening outings is the smarter choice.
One of the most important pieces of advice we can give you: avoid confrontation with locals at all costs. Unless a crime has been directly committed against you, do not engage. Mongolians can be very direct and quick-tempered, particularly when drinking. Keep a low profile, stay calm, and let minor irritations go. This is not weakness, but good judgment.
On the rental side: avoid booking through informal Facebook listings unless you have lived in Ulaanbaatar long enough to assess what you are dealing with. For a short term rentals, official businesses like us ROOTS MONGOLIA TRAVEL, provide legitimate, honest services at competitive price. Airbnb is relatively safe for short-term stays, with the same caveats that apply on that platform globally. For longer-term rentals, use a registered real estate company such as RE/MAX or 20th Century Realty rather than individual agents found through informal channels.

Getting Around Ulaanbaatar

Traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar is severe. If you need to be somewhere at a specific time, leave at 7 or 8 AM before congestion builds, or wait until 11 AM to noon when it eases. During rush hour, buses with dedicated lanes can be slightly faster than cars.
For taxis and ride-hailing, use the Hi-App. For public transit, you need a U-Money card, available at CU and GS25 convenience stores or at kiosks at major centrally located bus stops. If you have a Mongolian bank account, you can also pay directly with a debit card. Track bus routes and schedules using the UB Smart Bus app.
For SIM cards, Mobicom is the more reliable network. Unitel is slightly cheaper and has grown its user base, but complaints about data quality and dropped calls are common. Mobicom is what we use personally and recommend to all guests.
Convenience in UB: A Note on CU and GS25
If you are unfamiliar with Korean-style convenience stores, prepare to appreciate them. CU and GS25 locations across Ulaanbaatar are genuinely useful: you can top up your U-Money transit card, grab a hot meal (they have microwaves on-site), pick up coffee, find basic groceries, and handle small household needs — all in one stop. If there is a CU or GS25 close to your apartment, consider it a real advantage.

Our Apartment Rentals in Ulaanbaatar

We manage three furnished apartments in Ulaanbaatar. Each chosen for location, building quality, and the kind of safe, comfortable environment we would want for our own family members visiting the city.

Downtown Core Apartment

Our most central property, located next to the Bayangol Hotel in the 220 Myangat area. A one-bedroom unit in a solid Soviet-era building, within walking distance of every major downtown attraction. Best for first-time visitors and anyone prioritizing walkability. Sleeps up to 3.

Naadam Archery Field Apartment

A newer one-bedroom unit in a prestigious gated compound just south of Naadam Stadium, with panoramic views of Bogd Khan Mountain. Quieter and more residential, with excellent compound amenities. Sleeps up to 4.

Naadam Stadium View Apartment

A new two-bedroom apartment directly beside Naadam Stadium with a balcony overlooking the arena. During Naadam and summer events, this is as close as it gets. Sleeps up to 5.
All three properties include full kitchens, high-speed Wi-Fi, Smart TVs with 300+ international channels, 100% cotton bedding, regular cleaning service, and access to our emergency contact and guest support service at no additional charge. Airport pick-up and drop-off is available on request.

Book With Confidence with Us

When you stay with us, you are not booking a listing, but you are getting a knowledgeable local contact who will help you navigate Ulaanbaatar before you arrive, during your stay, and whenever something unexpected comes up. With women owners, we are solo and female travelers friendly.
Also we offer pre-booked night rides home from late-night outings, 24-hour emergency contact, and the kind of practical, honest guidance that most visitors only wish they had found earlier.
If you have questions about availability, pricing, or anything else about visiting Ulaanbaatar, reach out. We are happy to help even if you end up staying somewhere else.