Taxis are very loosely defined in Mongolia. There are city taxies which are painted yellow or white and have taxi signs. They generally operate on a meter but some meters seem to work faster then others. The starting price of the meter should read 250 but you are also often confronted with unknown and sudden supplements for being white or clueless. They are never the less the safer option late at night.

During the day, just stick your arm out near a road and any random car will stop to take you where you want to go. The prices are generally cheaper with unmarked and unregistered taxis but they can argue and become violent if they think you are a silly tourist with too much cash. At night some taxis will ask exorbitant prices if they think they can get away with it. As no taxi driver in the city speaks a word of English it is advisable that you learn the general words to direct the taxi in Mongolian before you take one.

The following prices are indicative of what you should be paying. Bear in mind that if you behave like a tourist you will be charged tourist prices, which may be considerably more than the prices below.

From the airport to Sukhbaatar Square (centre of the city): 4,000 to 6,000 Tugrug, more if you have luggage and friends.

From Sukhbaatar Square to the State Department Store would cost around 450 to 600 Tugrug depending on traffic conditions and the mood of the driver.

From Sukhbaatar Square to the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum in the south of the city would be around 1,500 Tugrug.