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: $615 in Erdenet versus $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $862 in Erdenet versus $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,110 in Erdenet versus $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar.

Living in Erdenet costs roughly 47% less than in Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erdenet 54% lower, Ulaanbaatar 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 MNT 14.5K

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

-27.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.03 MNT 103.8K

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

-3.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 MNT 15.5K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-21.94%

Cappuccino

$1.59 MNT 5,696

$2.64 MNT 9,447

-39.77%

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

$0.69 MNT 2,467

$0.75 MNT 2,693

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MNT 1,407

$0.48 MNT 1,705

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 MNT 4,393

$2.11 MNT 7,547

-41.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MNT 4,735

$2.31 MNT 8,244

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 MNT 3,576

$1.49 MNT 5,317

-32.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MNT 2,586

$0.98 MNT 3,489

-26.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 MNT 6,419

$2.14 MNT 7,648

-15.89%

Eggs

$2.13 MNT 7,621

$2.17 MNT 7,771

-1.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 MNT 35.2K

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

-38.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 MNT 18.1K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-8.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.97 MNT 14.2K

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

-36.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 MNT 8,803

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

-20.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 MNT 7,248

$2.65 MNT 9,461

-23.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MNT 9,373

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

-40.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MNT 7,359

$2.68 MNT 9,566

-23.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 MNT 2,730

$0.75 MNT 2,698

1.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 MNT 3,351

$1.02 MNT 3,662

-7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MNT 3,229

$1.27 MNT 4,534

-29.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MNT 2,442

$0.73 MNT 2,624

-6.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 MNT 10.7K

$1.79 MNT 6,384

67.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 MNT 20.5K

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

-40.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 MNT 4,144

$1.39 MNT 4,970

-16.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 MNT 4,864

$1.71 MNT 6,132

-20.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 MNT 359

$0.28 MNT 987

-64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.68 MNT 16.7K

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

-45.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 MNT 1,525

$0.62 MNT 2,210

-30.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MNT 2,446

$0.61 MNT 2,189

11.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 MNT 19.1K

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

11.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 MNT 3,131

$1.03 MNT 3,694

-14.56%

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

$12.6K MNT 44.9M

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

-58.43%

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

$10.5K MNT 37.6M

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

-43.38%

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

$63.4 MNT 226.6K

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

-22.14%

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

$2.86 MNT 10.2K

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

-63.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.88 MNT 53.2K

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

-12.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.77 MNT 88.6K

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

-59.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.36 MNT 15.6K

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

-67.63%

Cinema Ticket

$2.72 MNT 9,738

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

-27.66%

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

$195 MNT 696.1K

$177 MNT 632.8K

10.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,663 MNT 9.5M

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

-59.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.04 MNT 103.8K

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

-65.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.89 MNT 106.9K

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

-57.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 MNT 322.0K

$105 MNT 375.2K

-14.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MNT 319.1K

$161 MNT 577.2K

-44.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 MNT 642.5K

$512 MNT 1.8M

-64.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 MNT 482.5K

$405 MNT 1.4M

-66.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 MNT 2.1M

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

-59.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$221 MNT 790.1K

$601 MNT 2.1M

-63.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Erdenet: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Erdenet and $512 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulaanbaatar pays 172% 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: $29.00 in Erdenet vs $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $247 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 89% in total monthly costs ($615 vs $1,161 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ulaanbaatar earns 172% less. 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: $180 in Erdenet versus $512 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $195 in Erdenet versus $177 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 $615 in Erdenet versus $1,161 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 89% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.