Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Ulaanbaatar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $604 in Erdenet versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $852 in Erdenet versus $1,770 in Ulaanbaatar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,100 in Erdenet versus $2,413 in Ulaanbaatar.

Living in Erdenet costs roughly 46% less than in Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erdenet 55% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.87 MNT 13.9K

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

-28.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.70 MNT 106.4K

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

2.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

-15.91%

Cappuccino

$1.57 MNT 5,627

$2.55 MNT 9,154

-38.43%

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

$0.64 MNT 2,283

$0.76 MNT 2,714

-15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MNT 1,419

$0.51 MNT 1,830

-21.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 MNT 4,367

$2.10 MNT 7,526

-41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MNT 4,779

$2.34 MNT 8,379

-43.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MNT 3,640

$1.43 MNT 5,132

-28.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MNT 2,581

$0.98 MNT 3,522

-26.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 MNT 6,434

$2.11 MNT 7,567

-14.69%

Eggs

$2.17 MNT 7,775

$2.09 MNT 7,499

3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 MNT 35.0K

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

-37.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 MNT 18.0K

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

-13.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 MNT 13.6K

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

-41.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 MNT 8,973

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

-21.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 MNT 7,527

$2.67 MNT 9,554

-21.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MNT 9,372

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

-38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 MNT 7,244

$2.67 MNT 9,581

-24.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MNT 2,595

$0.72 MNT 2,589

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MNT 3,581

$1.01 MNT 3,625

-0.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 MNT 3,022

$1.29 MNT 4,638

-34.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MNT 2,487

$0.71 MNT 2,534

-2.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 MNT 10.4K

$1.77 MNT 6,342

63.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.69 MNT 20.4K

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

-45.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 MNT 4,139

$1.34 MNT 4,795

-14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MNT 4,716

$1.70 MNT 6,092

-22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 MNT 349

$0.28 MNT 991

-64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.76 MNT 17.1K

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

-45.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 MNT 1,638

$0.56 MNT 2,011

-17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MNT 2,431

$0.56 MNT 2,024

21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

13.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 MNT 3,299

$1.08 MNT 3,860

-14.81%

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

$12.3K MNT 43.9M

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

-59.78%

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

$10.5K MNT 37.6M

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

-42.95%

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

$61.3 MNT 219.7K

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

-25.90%

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

$2.91 MNT 10.4K

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

-60.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 MNT 53.4K

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

-10.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.29 MNT 90.7K

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

-59.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.46 MNT 16.0K

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

-67.49%

Cinema Ticket

$2.63 MNT 9,411

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

-30.05%

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

$193 MNT 690.5K

$175 MNT 628.2K

9.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,617 MNT 9.4M

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

-59.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.90 MNT 103.6K

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

-66.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 MNT 104.6K

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

-58.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 MNT 312.3K

$105 MNT 375.0K

-16.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MNT 320.7K

$160 MNT 573.3K

-44.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 MNT 622.1K

$511 MNT 1.8M

-66.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$131 MNT 470.1K

$405 MNT 1.5M

-67.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 MNT 2.1M

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

-61.35%

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)

$225 MNT 805.3K

$596 MNT 2.1M

-62.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Erdenet: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Erdenet and $511 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulaanbaatar pays 165% 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: $30.00 in Erdenet vs $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $247, with Erdenet 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

Erdenet vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erdenet and Ulaanbaatar differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($604 vs $1,127 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 165% 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: $174 in Erdenet versus $511 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $193 in Erdenet versus $175 in Ulaanbaatar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Ulaanbaatar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $604 in Erdenet versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Ulaanbaatar. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet 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, Erdenet 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 Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.