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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,770 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,413 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Ulaanbaatar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

-63.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

-36.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

41.67%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.55 MNT 9,154

-20.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.76 MNT 2,714

11.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.51 MNT 1,830

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.10 MNT 7,526

1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.34 MNT 8,379

53.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.43 MNT 5,132

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.98 MNT 3,522

60.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$2.11 MNT 7,567

-43.60%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$2.09 MNT 7,499

-7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

-48.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

68.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

-14.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$2.67 MNT 9,554

-56.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

-60.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.67 MNT 9,581

-40.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.72 MNT 2,589

91.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$1.01 MNT 3,625

18.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$1.29 MNT 4,638

-48.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.71 MNT 2,534

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.77 MNT 6,342

162.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

69.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$1.34 MNT 4,795

38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.70 MNT 6,092

94.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.28 MNT 991

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

119.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$0.56 MNT 2,011

142.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$0.56 MNT 2,024

139.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

76.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.08 MNT 3,860

12.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

-29.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

22.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,372

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

-14.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿471

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

89.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

4.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

-32.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

-49.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

57.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$175 MNT 628.2K

76.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

129.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

-35.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

-62.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$105 MNT 375.0K

-20.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$160 MNT 573.3K

-55.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$511 MNT 1.8M

-15.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$405 MNT 1.5M

-41.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

-45.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$757 MNT 2.7M

-32.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

-0.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$957 MNT 3.4M

53.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$596 MNT 2.1M

-2.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $511 in Ulaanbaatar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Ulaanbaatar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $247 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chiang Mai vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulaanbaatar costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,690 in Ulaanbaatar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $175 in Ulaanbaatar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Ulaanbaatar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,127. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ulaanbaatar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.