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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Erbil vs $1,160 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Erbil vs $1,925 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Erbil vs $2,691 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

Erbil is about 7% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Ulaanbaatar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$5.54 MNT 19.9K

40.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$32.58 MNT 117.1K

33.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$5.40 MNT 19.4K

51.85%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$2.38 MNT 8,567

53.36%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.83 MNT 2,974

25.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.57 MNT 2,032

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$2.31 MNT 8,312

158.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$3.25 MNT 11.7K

37.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.45 MNT 5,219

-12.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.97 MNT 3,502

-15.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$2.06 MNT 7,402

-18.93%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$2.15 MNT 7,747

-13.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$12.41 MNT 44.6K

-32.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$4.85 MNT 17.4K

17.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$7.16 MNT 25.7K

107.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$3.19 MNT 11.5K

-63.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$2.38 MNT 8,547

-51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$3.64 MNT 13.1K

-67.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$3.12 MNT 11.2K

-75.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.70 MNT 2,499

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$1.04 MNT 3,756

-34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$1.75 MNT 6,280

-58.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.79 MNT 2,847

-26.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$1.77 MNT 6,353

42.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$10.61 MNT 38.1K

15.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$1.50 MNT 5,388

10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$1.72 MNT 6,200

23.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.29 MNT 1,045

89.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$16.54 MNT 59.5K

168.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$0.51 MNT 1,846

284.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$0.54 MNT 1,929

237.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$6.23 MNT 22.4K

4.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$1.06 MNT 3,803

-37.74%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$27.3K MNT 98.3M

-34.80%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$34.5K MNT 124.0M

-42.40%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$69.8 MNT 250.8K

83.38%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$7.47 MNT 26.8K

85.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$13.90 MNT 50.0K

100.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$67.1 MNT 241.1K

-3.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

$18.23 MNT 65.5K

-19.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

183.82%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$813 MNT 2.9M

-61.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$8,436 MNT 30.3M

-63.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$83.6 MNT 300.7K

-63.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$44.65 MNT 160.5K

2.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$105 MNT 377.1K

-35.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$190 MNT 683.9K

-63.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

$586 MNT 2.1M

-19.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

$452 MNT 1.6M

-34.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

$1,695 MNT 6.1M

-57.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

$1,020 MNT 3.7M

-57.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

$1,928 MNT 6.9M

-43.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

$955 MNT 3.4M

-32.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

$592 MNT 2.1M

2.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

10.32

-75.48%

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

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Erbil versus $586 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 Erbil, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Erbil versus $33.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Erbil vs $237 in Ulaanbaatar – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 8%, 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 $1,612 per month in Erbil and $1,739 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 16% 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 $43.00 in Erbil and $33.00 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 $1,074, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,160. 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.