😐A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $645 in Mongolia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $998 in Mongolia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $1,350 in Mongolia, rent included.
😐Australia costs about 239% more than Mongolia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Mongolia is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24A$22.73
$4.79MNT 17.3K
239.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1A$108
$28.59MNT 103.1K
169.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.81A$13.74
$5.22MNT 18.8K
87.93%
Cappuccino
$3.58A$5.01
$2.61MNT 9,400
37.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57A$3.60
$0.69MNT 2,497
272.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.05
$0.44MNT 1,600
395.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.63A$9.28
$1.89MNT 6,799
250.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12A$9.97
$2.40MNT 8,652
196.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50A$2.10
$1.38MNT 4,976
8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53A$3.54
$0.91MNT 3,265
178.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07A$2.90
$1.88MNT 6,762
10.11%
Eggs
$4.29A$6.01
$2.10MNT 7,572
104.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65A$12.11
$13.27MNT 47.9K
-34.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34A$11.68
$5.42MNT 19.5K
53.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.90A$19.47
$5.62MNT 20.3K
147.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30A$4.61
$2.94MNT 10.6K
12.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77A$3.88
$2.44MNT 8,800
13.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95A$4.13
$3.89MNT 14.0K
-24.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19A$5.87
$2.70MNT 9,748
55.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42A$3.39
$0.67MNT 2,411
261.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.94
$1.04MNT 3,746
101.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26A$3.16
$1.11MNT 4,007
103.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.10
$0.74MNT 2,665
102.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58A$44.22
$1.80MNT 6,489
1654.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.29A$20.00
$9.18MNT 33.1K
55.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59A$6.42
$1.31MNT 4,731
250.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82A$6.75
$1.62MNT 5,852
197.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02A$4.22
$0.21MNT 769
1338.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.3A$138
$7.89MNT 28.5K
1145.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48A$4.88
$0.58MNT 2,077
500.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75A$2.45
$0.61MNT 2,188
186.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.97A$53.2
$4.43MNT 16.0K
757.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21A$1.69
$1.03MNT 3,719
17.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KA$40.6K
$22.1KMNT 79.6M
31.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KA$31.6K
$16.0KMNT 57.6M
41.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177A$248
$73.9MNT 266.4K
140.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85A$37.59
$7.42MNT 26.8K
261.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4A$73.4
$14.70MNT 53.0K
256.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.57A$66.6
$48.69MNT 175.6K
-2.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46A$23.04
$12.65MNT 45.6K
30.12%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73A$19.23
$3.45MNT 12.4K
297.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593A$2,231
$179MNT 646.1K
789.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KA$17.8K
$6,554MNT 23.6M
93.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0A$101
$74.7MNT 269.2K
-3.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3A$71.8
$59.7MNT 215.5K
-14.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$144
$99.2MNT 357.6K
3.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$152
$133MNT 479.4K
-18.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,401A$1,961
$481MNT 1.7M
191.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080A$1,512
$364MNT 1.3M
196.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,340A$3,276
$1,327MNT 4.8M
76.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,756A$2,459
$718MNT 2.6M
144.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,733A$10.8K
$1,767MNT 6.4M
337.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,563A$7,788
$930MNT 3.4M
498.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,000A$5,600
$561MNT 2.0M
613.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.35
6
5.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mongolia: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $209 in Mongolia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $523 in Ulaanbaatar.
💰Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $444 in Mongolia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 489% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 267% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 2133% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 773% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Australia vs Mongolia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Mongolia?
Mongolia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 281% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Mongolia, contributing to the overall 281% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or Mongolia?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mongolia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Mongolia?
Mongolia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.