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: $668 in Darkhan versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,086 in Darkhan versus $1,770 in Ulaanbaatar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,504 in Darkhan versus $2,413 in Ulaanbaatar.

Living in Darkhan costs roughly 41% less than in Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Darkhan 50% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.41 MNT 19.4K

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.32 MNT 105.1K

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 MNT 19.8K

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

4.92%

Cappuccino

$2.54 MNT 9,096

$2.55 MNT 9,154

-0.39%

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

$0.72 MNT 2,566

$0.76 MNT 2,714

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,825

$0.51 MNT 1,830

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 MNT 7,570

$2.10 MNT 7,526

0.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 MNT 8,252

$2.34 MNT 8,379

-1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 MNT 5,149

$1.43 MNT 5,132

0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MNT 3,657

$0.98 MNT 3,522

4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 MNT 7,667

$2.11 MNT 7,567

1.42%

Eggs

$2.08 MNT 7,465

$2.09 MNT 7,499

-0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.66 MNT 56.1K

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 MNT 20.3K

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.51 MNT 23.3K

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 MNT 11.3K

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

-0.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 MNT 9,337

$2.67 MNT 9,554

-2.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 MNT 15.2K

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 MNT 9,709

$2.67 MNT 9,581

1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MNT 2,779

$0.72 MNT 2,589

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MNT 3,689

$1.01 MNT 3,625

1.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MNT 4,456

$1.29 MNT 4,638

-3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 MNT 2,703

$0.71 MNT 2,534

5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 MNT 6,315

$1.77 MNT 6,342

-0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MNT 37.5K

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 MNT 4,936

$1.34 MNT 4,795

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MNT 6,137

$1.70 MNT 6,092

0.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 MNT 481

$0.28 MNT 991

-53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 MNT 1,089

$0.56 MNT 2,011

-46.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 MNT 2,213

$0.56 MNT 2,024

10.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MNT 16.6K

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

-0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,877

$1.08 MNT 3,860

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

$30.8K MNT 110.3M

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

1.01%

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

$18.9K MNT 67.8M

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

2.89%

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

$81.9 MNT 293.7K

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

-0.93%

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

$7.40 MNT 26.5K

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

-0.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.90 MNT 60.6K

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.78 MNT 13.6K

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

0.53%

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

$174 MNT 623.2K

$175 MNT 628.2K

-0.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,373 MNT 22.8M

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

-1.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.2 MNT 301.6K

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

-1.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.1 MNT 251.1K

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MNT 363.9K

$105 MNT 375.0K

-2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 MNT 571.8K

$160 MNT 573.3K

-0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 MNT 2.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in Darkhan vs $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Groceries flip the comparison at $248 vs $247, with Ulaanbaatar cheaper for home cooking.

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 69% 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 $1,001 in Darkhan and $1,690 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 $174 in Darkhan versus $175 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 $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $668 in Darkhan versus $1,127 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 69% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.