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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 17.3% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 19.2% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar without rent, and 24.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$5.70 MNT 20.4K
-64.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$29.80 MNT 106.5K
-38.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$5.44 MNT 19.5K
40.62%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$2.60 MNT 9,308
-26.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.71 MNT 2,532
18.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.47 MNT 1,679
-23.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$2.10 MNT 7,511
4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$2.29 MNT 8,190
65.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.42 MNT 5,067
15.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.02 MNT 3,659
58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$2.04 MNT 7,292
-43.63%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$2.10 MNT 7,504
-7.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$15.69 MNT 56.1K
1.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$5.68 MNT 20.3K
-45.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$6.40 MNT 22.9K
72.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$3.17 MNT 11.3K
-14.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$2.57 MNT 9,173
-54.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$4.42 MNT 15.8K
-61.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$2.76 MNT 9,867
-41.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.76 MNT 2,716
82.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.03 MNT 3,678
11.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$1.25 MNT 4,458
-43.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.69 MNT 2,464
-20.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.77 MNT 6,310
158.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$10.65 MNT 38.1K
77.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.35 MNT 4,813
34.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.78 MNT 6,356
80.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.28 MNT 1,000
214.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$8.58 MNT 30.7K
120.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$0.61 MNT 2,175
131.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$0.57 MNT 2,051
128.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$4.74 MNT 17.0K
73.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.08 MNT 3,854
13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$30.0K MNT 107.1M
-29.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$18.7K MNT 66.8M
19.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$81.4 MNT 290.9K
-14.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$7.64 MNT 27.3K
84.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$17.17 MNT 61.4K
3.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$60.1 MNT 215.0K
-31.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$13.54 MNT 48.4K
-50.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$3.76 MNT 13.5K
52.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$173 MNT 619.1K
72.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$6,518 MNT 23.3M
130.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$86.7 MNT 310.0K
-36.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$70.2 MNT 250.8K
-62.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$102 MNT 363.9K
-16.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$161 MNT 575.8K
-56.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$520 MNT 1.9M
-17.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$413 MNT 1.5M
-41.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$1,460 MNT 5.2M
-44.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$759 MNT 2.7M
-34.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$1,912 MNT 6.8M
5.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$958 MNT 3.4M
59.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$583 MNT 2.1M
9.55%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: April 13, 2026

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

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