Mongolia currency: 5 surprising facts about the Tugrik
What is the currency of Mongolia?
The currency of Mongolia is the Mongolian tugrik, also written as the Mongolian tögrög.
The Mongolia currency code is MNT, and the Mongolia currency symbol is ₮.
It is the official currency used in Mongolia for everyday spending, from Ulaanbaatar coffee stops to countryside markets, horse treks, ger camps and snacks between long drives across the steppe.
Quick facts: Mongolia currency
| Currency | Mongolian tugrik, also written as Mongolian tögrög |
| Code | MNT |
| Symbol | ₮ |
| Where used | Mongolia |
| Common banknotes | 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 tugrik are among the most useful notes for visitors |
| Common coins | 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 tugrik coins exist, but banknotes are more common for travel spending |
| Best currency to take | Mongolian tugrik for everyday spending, with a card or US dollars as backup |
| Simple tip | Buy Mongolian tugrik before you travel, especially if your trip includes rural areas, markets or ger camps. |
Is it tugrik or tögrög?
Both words refer to the same currency. Tögrög is closer to the Mongolian name, while tugrik is the spelling most English-speaking travellers will see online.
You may also spot variations such as Mongolian togrog, Mongolia tugrik or Mongolian tugriks. They all point to the same MNT currency.
Can you get Mongolian currency in the UK?
Yes, you can get Mongolian currency in the UK from Manor FX, but it is not always stocked by banks, the Post Office or standard high street exchange counters.
Manor FX specialises in hard-to-source foreign currencies, including Mongolian tugrik.
You can order online before your trip, avoid last-minute waiting around, and arrive with cash ready for your first taxi, meal or countryside transfer.
How do I get Mongolian currency?
You can buy Mongolian tugrik online from Manor FX.
Choose MNT on the website, enter the amount you want, check the exchange rate, then place your order.
Your currency can be delivered securely to your home or workplace, or collected from the Manor FX bureau near Heathrow.
This is especially useful if your trip involves rural areas, national parks, ger camps or time exploring Mongolia’s nomadic culture, where card payments may be limited.
What is the best currency to bring to Mongolia?
The best currency to bring to Mongolia is the Mongolian tugrik. It is the local currency and the most practical way to pay for small purchases, food, transport, markets, tips and everyday travel costs.
Cards are useful in major cities, especially in hotels, restaurants and bigger shops.
US dollars can be handy as backup in some travel settings. But for day-to-day spending, cash in MNT is still the simplest option.
Get Mongolian currency before you go (no hidden fees)
If you’re visiting Mongolia, it’s a good idea to sort some travel money before you leave the UK.
The tugrik is not as easy to find as euros or US dollars, and waiting until you arrive can mean hunting for a bank, ATM or exchange counter when you’d rather be starting your trip.
Manor FX sells Mongolian tugrik online, with secure delivery to your home or workplace. You can also collect your currency
from our bureau near Heathrow.
We provide physical travel money, not money transfers, international transfers or sending money services.
If you want banknotes for your Mongolia trip, you’re in the right place.
Mongolia currency exchange rate: what to know
The Mongolia currency exchange rate changes over time, so always check the rate today before buying your travel money.
The MNT exchange rate you see on a currency converter is usually a guide, not a guaranteed travel money price.
Sites like Xe, Wise, Oanda and other converter tools can be useful if you want to compare the mid market rate, check a GBP chart or convert currencies quickly.
But they may not include delivery, commission, card fees or the cost of getting physical banknotes.
Exchange rates vary depending on the provider, order size, payment method and availability. The rate today might be different tomorrow, so check the final price before you buy.
Ready to buy Mongolian tugrik?
Order Mongolian tugrik online from Manor FX today for secure delivery, or collect from our bureau near Heathrow.
It is a simple way to arrive with local currency in hand, ready for the first stop on your Mongolian adventure.
Where to buy Mongolian tugrik in the UK
| Option | What to expect |
| Specialist bureau (online) | The simplest option for less common currencies: compare rates and order ahead. Get the best rates and swift home delivery with Manor FX. |
| High street banks | Some currencies may need ordering in advance; availability can vary by branch. |
| Post Office | Stocks a range of travel money, but less common currencies may be limited or unavailable. |
| Airport exchange | Convenient, but higher costs; stock of rarer currencies can be unpredictable. |
Get Mongolia currency
5 surprising facts about the Mongolian tugrik
1. The name has an interesting meaning
The word tögrög is associated with the idea of something round or circular, which makes sense as a currency name. It has the same pleasing logic as calling money after the shape of a coin.
So, while “tugrik” sounds unusual in English, the meaning behind the Mongolian currency name is simple, practical and very money-shaped.
2. The modern tugrik was introduced in 1925
The modern Mongolian tögrög was introduced in December 1925, during the era of the Mongolian People’s Republic.
It replaced earlier currencies and became part of Mongolia’s move towards a more unified national money system.
Mongolia’s 20th-century economic history was closely tied to the Soviet Union, and the tugrik has undergone significant changes since then, including inflation, reforms, and shifts in value.
3. Chinggis Khaan appears on major banknotes
Mongolian banknotes are full of national history. Higher-value notes such as 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 tugrik feature Chinggis Khaan, often known in English as Genghis Khan.
Lower-value notes tend to feature Damdin Sükhbaatar, a revolutionary figure in modern Mongolian history.
So, your travel money is not just cash for food, hotels and taxis. It is also a tiny pocket gallery of Mongolian identity.
4. Banknotes do most of the work
Mongolia has both banknotes and coins, but visitors are more likely to use notes for everyday payments.
Current banknotes issued by the country’s central bank include 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 tugrik. For travellers, the most useful set is usually 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and above.
Coins include 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 tugrik denominations. They exist, but banknotes are more commonly used in circulation for everyday spending.
5. Inner Mongolia uses a different currency
This one catches people out. The modern country of Mongolia uses the Mongolian tugrik.
But Inner Mongolia currency is different because Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of China, so it uses the Chinese yuan.
If you see someone search for the currency Outer Mongolia, they usually mean the currency of the independent country of Mongolia, which is MNT.
It’s a useful difference to know if your trip or research crosses borders.ia prefer to use paper notes, even for small amounts.
FAQs
Mongolia’s currency name is the Mongolian tugrik, also written as Mongolian tögrög. Its currency code is MNT and its symbol is ₮.
Yes. If you return with leftover Mongolian tugriks, Manor FX can help you convert Mongolian currency to GBP. Select “sell currency” and choose MNT Mongolian tugrik. We offer the best MNT to GBP exchange rates.
No. Manor FX does not offer sending money, sending money abroad, money transfers or international transfer services. We specialise in physical travel money, helping customers buy and sell foreign currency banknotes.
No. Inner Mongolia is part of China, so it uses the Chinese yuan. The independent country of Mongolia, sometimes historically called Outer Mongolia, uses the Mongolian tugrik.
As of 12 May 2026, recent market data puts £1 at roughly 4,800-4,900 Mongolian tugrik. That means £100 would be roughly 480,000 to 490,000 MNT before any provider costs or differences in travel money rates.
If you are checking Mongolia currency to GBP, Mongolia currency to pounds, or MNT to GBP, remember the direction matters.
One tugrik is worth only a fraction of a penny, so it is usually easier to compare larger amounts, such as 10,000 MNT, 100,000 MNT or 1 million MNT.
As of 12 May 2026 at the current mongolia currency rate, $1 USD is worth around 3,579 Mongolian tugrik.
US dollars can be useful in some travel situations, especially for tours or higher-value services, but the tugrik is still the currency in Mongolia for everyday spending.