Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Mongolia Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Mongolia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $644 in Mongolia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Australia vs $993 in Mongolia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,253 per month in Australia vs $1,342 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
$16.44 A$23.23
$4.61 MNT 16.5K
256.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.1 A$110
$28.13 MNT 100.6K
177.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 A$14.05
$5.40 MNT 19.3K
84.07%
Cappuccino
$3.60 A$5.08
$2.58 MNT 9,218
39.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.78
$0.73 MNT 2,594
267.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 A$3.02
$0.44 MNT 1,568
386.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.53 A$9.23
$1.89 MNT 6,775
245.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 A$9.96
$2.33 MNT 8,318
202.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 A$2.23
$1.40 MNT 4,998
12.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.57
$0.91 MNT 3,239
178.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.93
$1.92 MNT 6,871
7.81%
Eggs
$4.30 A$6.08
$2.13 MNT 7,618
101.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.03 A$12.76
$13.32 MNT 47.6K
-32.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 A$12.08
$5.49 MNT 19.6K
55.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 A$19.72
$5.61 MNT 20.0K
148.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 A$4.49
$3.05 MNT 10.9K
4.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.01
$2.53 MNT 9,038
12.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.17
$3.71 MNT 13.3K
-20.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 A$6.26
$2.69 MNT 9,613
64.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.47
$0.65 MNT 2,312
278.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 A$3.07
$0.95 MNT 3,383
128.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 A$3.24
$1.11 MNT 3,962
106.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.22
$0.73 MNT 2,617
115.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.87 A$43.61
$1.80 MNT 6,429
1615.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.06 A$19.86
$9.76 MNT 34.9K
44.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.43
$1.33 MNT 4,746
242.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 A$6.80
$1.68 MNT 6,014
186.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.87 A$4.05
$0.20 MNT 728
1335.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.8 A$135
$7.63 MNT 27.3K
1155.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.15
$0.61 MNT 2,185
498.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 A$2.49
$0.57 MNT 2,052
208.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.27 A$54.1
$4.37 MNT 15.6K
775.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.63
$1.03 MNT 3,695
11.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.1K
$22.1K MNT 79.2M
28.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K A$32.5K
$16.0K MNT 57.4M
43.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 A$251
$74.2 MNT 265.3K
139.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.46 A$37.38
$7.60 MNT 27.2K
248.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 A$76.4
$14.55 MNT 52.0K
271.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.64 A$65.9
$49.98 MNT 178.7K
-6.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.54 A$23.37
$12.57 MNT 45.0K
31.58%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 A$19.28
$3.59 MNT 12.8K
280.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,575 A$2,225
$177 MNT 634.5K
787.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.9K
$6,453 MNT 23.1M
96.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 A$101
$73.9 MNT 264.2K
-3.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 A$71.8
$61.9 MNT 221.5K
-17.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 A$142
$98.6 MNT 352.6K
1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$153
$133 MNT 475.5K
-18.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 A$1,955
$490 MNT 1.8M
182.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 A$1,562
$373 MNT 1.3M
196.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 A$3,246
$1,328 MNT 4.7M
73.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 A$2,441
$737 MNT 2.6M
134.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,610 A$10.8K
$1,806 MNT 6.5M
321.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,504 A$7,776
$940 MNT 3.4M
485.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Mongolia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,002 A$5,654
$576 MNT 2.1M
595.31%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mongolia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $208 in Mongolia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,568 in Canberra and $530 in Ulaanbaatar.

Average salary: $3,845 in Australia vs $447 in Mongolia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 492% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 250% more in Australia.

Public transport is 2133% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 760% 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 289% 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 289% 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.

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