Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Ulaanbaatar

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $1,159 in Ulaanbaatar, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

21

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
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Dhaka Living Index
57

Cost of Living Index in Ulaanbaatar
Learn more

Ulaanbaatar Living Index

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Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$426

/mo nomad

Ulaanbaatar

🇲🇳 Mongolia

$1,159

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Ulaanbaatar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dhaka and in Ulaanbaatar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Dhaka versus $1,159 in Ulaanbaatar.

Dhaka $426
Ulaanbaatar $1,159

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Dhaka versus $1,881 in Ulaanbaatar.

Dhaka $735
Ulaanbaatar $1,881

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,043 in Dhaka versus $2,602 in Ulaanbaatar.

Dhaka $1,043
Ulaanbaatar $2,602

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 63% less than in Ulaanbaatar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Ulaanbaatar 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.49 ৳305

$5.62 MNT 20.2K

-55.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.06 ৳1,604

$31.97 MNT 114.9K

-59.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ৳594

$5.59 MNT 20.1K

-13.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 ৳606

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 ৳504

Cappuccino

$2.34 ৳287

$2.35 MNT 8,452

-0.43%

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

$0.30 ৳37.38

$0.87 MNT 3,130

-65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ৳19.96

$0.62 MNT 2,225

-74.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 MNT 8,233

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 MNT 11.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 ৳98.1

$1.41 MNT 5,064

-43.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ৳79.3

$0.98 MNT 3,508

-33.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 ৳87.2

$2.14 MNT 7,672

-66.82%

Eggs

$1.21 ৳149

$2.11 MNT 7,596

-42.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 ৳1,065

$12.32 MNT 44.3K

-29.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 ৳395

$4.91 MNT 17.6K

-34.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.70 ৳823

$6.76 MNT 24.3K

-0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ৳335

$3.16 MNT 11.4K

-13.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 ৳108

$2.36 MNT 8,492

-62.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ৳291

$3.65 MNT 13.1K

-35.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 ৳79.5

$3.11 MNT 11.2K

-79.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 ৳29.19

$0.72 MNT 2,586

-66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ৳60.6

$1.03 MNT 3,700

-52.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 ৳38.87

$1.75 MNT 6,281

-81.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.30

$0.73 MNT 2,610

-58.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.07 ৳1,483

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.51 ৳677

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 ৳818

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ৳396

$1.66 MNT 5,961

94.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.34 MNT 37.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 MNT 5,403

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 MNT 6,246

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ৳52.1

$0.29 MNT 1,045

44.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.54 ৳2,769

$16.73 MNT 60.1K

34.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ৳147

$0.54 MNT 1,952

120.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ৳48.58

$0.52 MNT 1,863

-23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 ৳411

$6.49 MNT 23.3K

-48.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ৳141

$1.12 MNT 4,016

2.68%

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

$30.3K ৳3.7M

$27.4K MNT 98.4M

10.61%

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

$33.0K ৳4.1M

$34.3K MNT 123.1M

-3.60%

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

$46.32 ৳5,690

$71.1 MNT 255.5K

-34.86%

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

$4.33 ৳531

$7.56 MNT 27.2K

-42.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.63 ৳1,306

$13.87 MNT 49.8K

-23.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.37 ৳2,011

$67.0 MNT 240.7K

-75.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.14 ৳1,982

$17.98 MNT 64.6K

-10.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ৳508

$4.24 MNT 15.2K

-2.59%

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

$90.7 ৳11.1K

$814 MNT 2.9M

-88.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,649 ৳325.4K

$8,372 MNT 30.1M

-68.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.48 ৳2,024

$81.3 MNT 292.0K

-79.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.00 ৳2,579

$45.60 MNT 163.8K

-53.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 ৳6,173

$101 MNT 364.2K

-50.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.46 ৳4,478

$184 MNT 661.7K

-80.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 ৳18.6K

$578 MNT 2.1M

-73.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.6 ৳9,041

$443 MNT 1.6M

-83.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 ৳53.5K

$1,661 MNT 6.0M

-73.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ৳26.3K

$992 MNT 3.6M

-78.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,622 ৳199.2K

$1,901 MNT 6.8M

-14.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$761 ৳93.5K

$973 MNT 3.5M

-21.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$249 ৳30.6K

$593 MNT 2.1M

-58.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.48

10.32

1.55%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$123 28.5%

Ulaanbaatar

$234 20.1% 91.2% $112

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$74 17.1%

Ulaanbaatar

$443 38% 502% $369

Eating Out

Dhaka

$64 15%

Ulaanbaatar

$114 9.8% 77.3% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$61 14.3%

Ulaanbaatar

$93 7.9% 51% $31

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$56 13%

Ulaanbaatar

$186 15.9% 232% $130

Getting Around

Dhaka

$27 6.4%

Ulaanbaatar

$21 1.8% 23.3% $6.4

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$25 5.7%

Ulaanbaatar

$75 6.5% 206% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Dhaka and $578 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulaanbaatar pays 138% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $32.00 in Ulaanbaatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $234 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇳 Ulaanbaatar

🕒 Local time

13:02 1:02 PM

15:02 3:02 PM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

1,401,200 Capital

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Mongolian Tögrög MNT ₮

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.14 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR

10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD

10,000 MNT = 2.48 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MNT, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Taka (৳)

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 123 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.14 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR).

Mongolian Tögrög exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,593 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 4,030 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.48 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Ulaanbaatar 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
Ulaanbaatar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Dhaka vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 172% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 138% lower in Ulaanbaatar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $152 in Dhaka versus $578 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Dhaka versus $1,159 in Ulaanbaatar – a 172% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 35% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $426 in Dhaka versus $1,159 in Ulaanbaatar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Ulaanbaatar. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka 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.

Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.