Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulaanbaatar

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 17.6% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 18.9% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$5.44 MNT 19.4K
-62.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$28.87 MNT 103.2K
-34.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$5.58 MNT 20K
37.46%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.52 MNT 9,023
-21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.71 MNT 2,524
15.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.47 MNT 1,670
-29.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.08 MNT 7,450
1.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.4 MNT 8,594
55.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.46 MNT 5,229
12.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.03 MNT 3,668
52.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.02 MNT 7,226
-41.09%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.15 MNT 7,682
-7.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$15.82 MNT 56.6K
1.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.82 MNT 20.8K
-46.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6.31 MNT 22.6K
76.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.13 MNT 11.2K
-11.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.57 MNT 9,174
-52.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$4.37 MNT 15.6K
-60.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$2.74 MNT 9,814
-43.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.77 MNT 2,750
74.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.01 MNT 3,622
19.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.31 MNT 4,694
-45.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.69 MNT 2,456
-23.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$1.72 MNT 6,156
174.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$9.57 MNT 34.2K
92.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.38 MNT 4,936
29.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.74 MNT 6,220
84.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.3 MNT 1,086
213.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$8.75 MNT 31.3K
116.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.61 MNT 2,188
132.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.6 MNT 2,156
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$4.58 MNT 16.4K
71.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.08 MNT 3,856
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$30.3K MNT 108.5M
-30.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$18.4K MNT 65.8M
18.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$81.7 MNT 292.1K
-13.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$7.52 MNT 26.9K
82.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$17.3 MNT 61.9K
1.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$61.1 MNT 218.6K
-31.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$14 MNT 50.1K
-50.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.87 MNT 13.8K
49.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$173 MNT 619.9K
77.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$6,495 MNT 23.2M
126.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$84.7 MNT 303K
-34.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$69.8 MNT 249.6K
-62.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$101 MNT 362.3K
-15.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$162 MNT 579.3K
-55.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$517 MNT 1.8M
-16.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$411 MNT 1.5M
-42.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,506 MNT 5.4M
-45.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$756 MNT 2.7M
-34.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,834 MNT 6.6M
18.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$889 MNT 3.2M
73.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$531 MNT 1.9M
32.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6
-16.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: October 28, 2025

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