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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 14.9% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 24.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.6% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 24.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$5.45 MNT 19.6K
-62.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$29.36 MNT 105.6K
-36.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$5.40 MNT 19.4K
38.52%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$2.63 MNT 9,464
-23.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.71 MNT 2,539
19.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.50 MNT 1,816
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$2.04 MNT 7,332
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.36 MNT 8,503
59.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.48 MNT 5,337
16.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.03 MNT 3,688
58.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$2.14 MNT 7,705
-45.79%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$2.15 MNT 7,749
-7.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$15.69 MNT 56.4K
1.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$5.63 MNT 20.2K
-43.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$6.30 MNT 22.7K
73.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$3.04 MNT 10.9K
-12.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$2.59 MNT 9,328
-52.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$4.42 MNT 15.9K
-61.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$2.78 MNT 10.0K
-42.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.71 MNT 2,554
85.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.07 MNT 3,852
9.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$1.27 MNT 4,562
-46.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.70 MNT 2,521
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$1.77 MNT 6,385
154.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$9.99 MNT 35.9K
90.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.39 MNT 4,991
27.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$1.70 MNT 6,114
87.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.28 MNT 1,006
242.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$8.71 MNT 31.3K
116.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$0.62 MNT 2,224
119.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.61 MNT 2,183
121.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$4.61 MNT 16.6K
74.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.05 MNT 3,767
18.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$30.6K MNT 110.0M
-30.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$18.5K MNT 66.5M
17.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$83.2 MNT 299.4K
-14.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$7.47 MNT 26.9K
88.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$17.15 MNT 61.7K
1.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$61.2 MNT 220.2K
-31.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$13.91 MNT 50.0K
-50.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$3.85 MNT 13.8K
54.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$174 MNT 625.4K
76.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$6,558 MNT 23.6M
125.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$84.6 MNT 304.2K
-34.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$70.2 MNT 252.5K
-61.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$105 MNT 377.2K
-20.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$158 MNT 569.6K
-55.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$510 MNT 1.8M
-16.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$411 MNT 1.5M
-42.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$1,477 MNT 5.3M
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$752 MNT 2.7M
-33.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,942 MNT 7.0M
6.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$951 MNT 3.4M
61.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$605 MNT 2.2M
7.99%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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