Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ulaanbaatar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $1,770 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $2,413 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

Erbil is about 8% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Ulaanbaatar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

43.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

-21.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

68.18%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.55 MNT 9,154

25.49%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.76 MNT 2,714

-36.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.51 MNT 1,830

-60.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$2.10 MNT 7,526

-8.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.34 MNT 8,379

-8.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.43 MNT 5,132

-8.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.98 MNT 3,522

-13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$2.11 MNT 7,567

-11.85%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$2.09 MNT 7,499

-5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

-53.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

-18.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

119.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

-62.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$2.67 MNT 9,554

-56.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

-73.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$2.67 MNT 9,581

-69.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.72 MNT 2,589

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$1.01 MNT 3,625

-25.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$1.29 MNT 4,638

-43.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.71 MNT 2,534

-19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.77 MNT 6,342

48.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.34 MNT 4,795

3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$1.70 MNT 6,092

15.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.28 MNT 991

110.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

298.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$0.56 MNT 2,011

301.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$0.56 MNT 2,024

316.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

45.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$1.08 MNT 3,860

-39.81%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

-36.32%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

13.32%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

22.95%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

135.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

77.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

18.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

-15.82%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

203.46%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$175 MNT 628.2K

49.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

-49.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

-61.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

-28.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$105 MNT 375.0K

-22.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$160 MNT 573.3K

-52.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$511 MNT 1.8M

-16.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$405 MNT 1.5M

-32.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

-51.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$757 MNT 2.7M

-34.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

-41.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$957 MNT 3.4M

-31.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$596 MNT 2.1M

-2.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

138.83%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $247 – making Erbil 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

Erbil vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ulaanbaatar is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil 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 Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,127. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Erbil. 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.