Cost of Living Comparison Between Darkhan and Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living Comparison Between Darkhan and Ulaanbaatar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Darkhan versus $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in Darkhan versus $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,508 in Darkhan versus $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar.

Living in Darkhan costs roughly 43% less than in Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Darkhan 51% lower, Ulaanbaatar 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 MNT 20.4K

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.36 MNT 105.0K

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

-2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 MNT 18.9K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-5.22%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MNT 9,397

$2.64 MNT 9,447

-0.38%

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

$0.78 MNT 2,775

$0.75 MNT 2,693

4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,831

$0.48 MNT 1,705

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 MNT 7,416

$2.11 MNT 7,547

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 MNT 8,176

$2.31 MNT 8,244

-0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MNT 5,093

$1.49 MNT 5,317

-4.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MNT 3,470

$0.98 MNT 3,489

-1.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MNT 7,542

$2.14 MNT 7,648

-1.40%

Eggs

$2.15 MNT 7,680

$2.17 MNT 7,771

-0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.95 MNT 57.0K

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

-0.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 MNT 20.3K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

1.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 MNT 23.0K

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

2.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 MNT 11.1K

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

0.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 MNT 9,266

$2.65 MNT 9,461

-2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 MNT 16.0K

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

0.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MNT 9,504

$2.68 MNT 9,566

-0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MNT 2,695

$0.75 MNT 2,698

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,645

$1.02 MNT 3,662

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 MNT 4,478

$1.27 MNT 4,534

-1.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MNT 2,637

$0.73 MNT 2,624

1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 MNT 6,372

$1.79 MNT 6,384

-0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 MNT 34.1K

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 MNT 4,919

$1.39 MNT 4,970

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 MNT 6,412

$1.71 MNT 6,132

4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 MNT 603

$0.28 MNT 987

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 MNT 1,079

$0.62 MNT 2,210

-51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MNT 2,190

$0.61 MNT 2,189

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 MNT 17.2K

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,879

$1.03 MNT 3,694

4.85%

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

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

1.10%

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

$19.0K MNT 68.0M

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

2.40%

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

$82.1 MNT 293.6K

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

0.91%

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

$7.71 MNT 27.6K

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

-0.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.71 MNT 59.8K

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

-1.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.91 MNT 14.0K

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

3.99%

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

$176 MNT 630.1K

$177 MNT 632.8K

-0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,477 MNT 23.2M

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

-0.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.4 MNT 309.1K

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

2.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.6 MNT 245.4K

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

-1.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MNT 370.2K

$105 MNT 375.2K

-1.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 MNT 564.3K

$161 MNT 577.2K

-2.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MNT 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Darkhan: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in Darkhan vs $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $247 per month, with Darkhan cheaper across the board.

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

Darkhan vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Darkhan wins on cost – living expenses run 77% lower than in Ulaanbaatar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Darkhan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $985 in Darkhan and $1,742 in Ulaanbaatar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $176 in Darkhan versus $177 in Ulaanbaatar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Darkhan – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $657 in Darkhan versus $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Darkhan but tight or insufficient in Ulaanbaatar. The gap between the two cities makes Darkhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Darkhan and Ulaanbaatar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Darkhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.