😐A single person spends $2,181 per month in Australia vs $642 in Mongolia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,218 per month in Australia vs $991 in Mongolia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,254 per month in Australia vs $1,340 in Mongolia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Australia is about 240% higher than in Mongolia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Australia sits 64% 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
$15.97A$22.93
$4.65MNT 16.7K
243.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0A$113
$28.84MNT 103.6K
173.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68A$13.91
$5.35MNT 19.2K
80.93%
Cappuccino
$3.58A$5.15
$2.49MNT 8,951
43.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56A$3.68
$0.68MNT 2,448
276.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22A$3.19
$0.44MNT 1,596
404.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.34A$9.10
$1.85MNT 6,659
242.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95A$9.98
$2.37MNT 8,512
193.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56A$2.25
$1.45MNT 5,203
7.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53A$3.63
$0.96MNT 3,452
163.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00A$2.87
$1.94MNT 6,970
3.09%
Eggs
$4.26A$6.12
$2.17MNT 7,783
96.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.75A$12.57
$13.50MNT 48.5K
-35.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.23A$11.83
$5.46MNT 19.6K
50.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.15A$20.33
$5.58MNT 20.1K
153.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26A$4.69
$2.98MNT 10.7K
9.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$4.04
$2.40MNT 8,639
17.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00A$4.31
$3.68MNT 13.2K
-18.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31A$6.19
$2.62MNT 9,423
64.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55A$3.67
$0.71MNT 2,544
259.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16A$3.10
$0.97MNT 3,478
122.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22A$3.19
$1.08MNT 3,879
105.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53A$2.20
$0.75MNT 2,692
104.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.28A$44.93
$1.73MNT 6,210
1708.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.09A$20.24
$10.03MNT 36.0K
40.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.44A$6.38
$1.27MNT 4,571
249.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90A$7.05
$1.70MNT 6,113
188.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.95A$4.24
$0.21MNT 742
1304.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.9A$138
$7.74MNT 27.8K
1139.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$5.01
$0.61MNT 2,186
472.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84A$2.64
$0.58MNT 2,075
217.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.26A$53.5
$4.49MNT 16.1K
729.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.68
$1.03MNT 3,718
13.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KA$41.3K
$21.9KMNT 78.6M
31.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KA$32.3K
$15.9KMNT 57.2M
41.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173A$249
$74.1MNT 266.4K
133.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.62A$38.23
$7.61MNT 27.3K
249.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1A$76.2
$14.24MNT 51.2K
272.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.82A$67.3
$49.48MNT 177.8K
-5.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38A$23.53
$12.76MNT 45.9K
28.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.56A$19.48
$3.50MNT 12.6K
287.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,571A$2,256
$177MNT 635.7K
787.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6KA$18.1K
$6,579MNT 23.6M
91.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1A$104
$74.7MNT 268.5K
-3.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6A$74.1
$60.4MNT 216.9K
-14.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$145
$99.9MNT 359.0K
1.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$155
$129MNT 461.9K
-16.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398A$2,008
$482MNT 1.7M
189.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086A$1,560
$362MNT 1.3M
200.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,272A$3,263
$1,305MNT 4.7M
74.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,751A$2,515
$720MNT 2.6M
143.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,955A$11.4K
$1,826MNT 6.6M
335.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,978A$8,587
$953MNT 3.4M
526.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,053A$5,822
$588MNT 2.1M
589.52%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mongolia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,230 in Australia vs $208 in Mongolia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,557 in Canberra and $521 in Ulaanbaatar.
💰Average salary: $3,808 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 491% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 267% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 2133% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 758% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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 283% 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 283% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to 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.