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: $368 in Erdenet versus $1,160 in Ulaanbaatar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $622 in Erdenet versus $1,925 in Ulaanbaatar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $876 in Erdenet versus $2,691 in Ulaanbaatar.

Living in Erdenet costs roughly 68% less than in Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erdenet 73% lower, Ulaanbaatar 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.25 MNT 15.3K

$5.54 MNT 19.9K

-23.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.30 MNT 101.7K

$32.58 MNT 117.1K

-13.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

$5.40 MNT 19.4K

-20.74%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MNT 8,032

$2.38 MNT 8,567

-6.30%

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

$0.66 MNT 2,359

$0.83 MNT 2,974

-20.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MNT 1,445

$0.57 MNT 2,032

-29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 MNT 6,077

$2.31 MNT 8,312

-26.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,096

$3.25 MNT 11.7K

-47.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 MNT 3,699

$1.45 MNT 5,219

-28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 MNT 3,212

$0.97 MNT 3,502

-8.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 MNT 10.2K

$2.06 MNT 7,402

38.35%

Eggs

$1.98 MNT 7,115

$2.15 MNT 7,747

-7.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 MNT 25.5K

$12.41 MNT 44.6K

-42.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 MNT 24.3K

$4.85 MNT 17.4K

39.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 MNT 15.7K

$7.16 MNT 25.7K

-38.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 MNT 7,828

$3.19 MNT 11.5K

-31.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 MNT 6,174

$2.38 MNT 8,547

-27.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 MNT 6,135

$3.64 MNT 13.1K

-53.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 MNT 4,864

$3.12 MNT 11.2K

-56.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 MNT 5,065

$0.70 MNT 2,499

101.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 MNT 3,094

$1.04 MNT 3,756

-17.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 MNT 4,891

$1.75 MNT 6,280

-22.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MNT 3,607

$0.79 MNT 2,847

26.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 MNT 9,749

$1.77 MNT 6,353

53.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 MNT 20.4K

$10.61 MNT 38.1K

-46.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,099

$1.50 MNT 5,388

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 MNT 6,086

$1.72 MNT 6,200

-1.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 MNT 550

$0.29 MNT 1,045

-48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.27 MNT 69.3K

$16.54 MNT 59.5K

16.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 MNT 2,153

$0.51 MNT 1,846

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 MNT 1,456

$0.54 MNT 1,929

-25.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 MNT 22.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 MNT 2,503

$1.06 MNT 3,803

-33.96%

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

$27.3K MNT 98.3M

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

$34.5K MNT 124.0M

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

$57.5 MNT 206.7K

$69.8 MNT 250.8K

-17.59%

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

$2.72 MNT 9,776

$7.47 MNT 26.8K

-63.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.81 MNT 49.7K

$13.90 MNT 50.0K

-0.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.1 MNT 241.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MNT 65.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

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

$274 MNT 983.5K

$813 MNT 2.9M

-66.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,474 MNT 8.9M

$8,436 MNT 30.3M

-70.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 MNT 300.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.65 MNT 160.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 377.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 MNT 683.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MNT 2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MNT 1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,695 MNT 6.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 MNT 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,928 MNT 6.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$955 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$221 MNT 792.9K

$592 MNT 2.1M

-62.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.32

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

Last update for Erdenet: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ulaanbaatar pays 168% 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: $28.00 in Erdenet vs $33.00 in Ulaanbaatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $237 per month, with Erdenet cheaper across the board.

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 215% in total monthly costs ($368 vs $1,160 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 168% 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.

Childcare runs $274 in Erdenet versus $813 in Ulaanbaatar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Ulaanbaatar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $368 in Erdenet versus $1,160 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 215% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.