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 $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

Erbil is about 11% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Ulaanbaatar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Ulaanbaatar 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

37.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

-23.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

61.51%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$2.64 MNT 9,447

18.56%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.75 MNT 2,693

-34.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.48 MNT 1,705

-58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$2.11 MNT 7,547

-5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.31 MNT 8,244

-7.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.49 MNT 5,317

-11.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.98 MNT 3,489

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$2.14 MNT 7,648

-15.89%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$2.17 MNT 7,771

-8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

-53.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-13.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

127.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

-63.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$2.65 MNT 9,461

-54.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

-73.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$2.68 MNT 9,566

-71.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.75 MNT 2,698

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$1.02 MNT 3,662

-29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$1.27 MNT 4,534

-38.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.73 MNT 2,624

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.79 MNT 6,384

46.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

29.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.39 MNT 4,970

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$1.71 MNT 6,132

17.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.28 MNT 987

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

295.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$0.62 MNT 2,210

279.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$0.61 MNT 2,189

260.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

44.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$1.03 MNT 3,694

-32.04%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

-36.78%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

11.47%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

25.88%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

130.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

72.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

20.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

-12.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

209.04%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$177 MNT 632.8K

51.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

-49.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

-61.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

-30.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$105 MNT 375.2K

-22.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$161 MNT 577.2K

-52.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$512 MNT 1.8M

-16.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$405 MNT 1.4M

-31.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

-50.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$740 MNT 2.6M

-34.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

-42.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

$953 MNT 3.4M

-30.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$601 MNT 2.1M

-2.81%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $512 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 $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 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 12%, 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 $1,742 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 25% 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 $30.00 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 $1,161. 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.