Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Mongolia Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Mongolia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $643 in Mongolia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $1,001 in Mongolia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $1,359 in Mongolia.

Living in India costs about 40% less than in Mongolia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Mongolia 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Mongolia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 ₹244
$4.67 MNT 16.7K
-45.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 ₹1,321
$28.79 MNT 103.2K
-52.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₹385
$5.28 MNT 18.9K
-24.24%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ₹184
$2.58 MNT 9,263
-25.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹41.85
$0.75 MNT 2,671
-42.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.11
$0.45 MNT 1,601
-62.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹186
$1.87 MNT 6,717
3.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₹341
$2.28 MNT 8,174
55.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Mongolia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$1.37 MNT 4,905
-46.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.1
$0.98 MNT 3,497
-46.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$1.86 MNT 6,655
-60.75%
Eggs
$0.95 ₹91.4
$2.14 MNT 7,655
-55.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.32 ₹512
$13.09 MNT 46.9K
-59.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ₹299
$5.54 MNT 19.9K
-44.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.66 MNT 20.3K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₹208
$3.05 MNT 10.9K
-29.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹67.7
$2.51 MNT 9,004
-72.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹101
$3.70 MNT 13.3K
-71.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.8
$2.68 MNT 9,591
-80.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.65
$0.65 MNT 2,332
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 ₹46.63
$1.02 MNT 3,668
-52.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.78
$1.10 MNT 3,955
-52.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.33
$0.69 MNT 2,487
-47.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ₹387
$1.82 MNT 6,521
120.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 ₹701
$9.79 MNT 35.1K
-25.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹183
$1.25 MNT 4,485
52.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₹292
$1.70 MNT 6,078
78.24%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.84 ₹562
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Mongolia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.66
$0.16 MNT 588
125.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.84 ₹948
$7.52 MNT 26.9K
30.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹91.8
$0.58 MNT 2,065
63.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.03
$0.60 MNT 2,164
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₹172
$4.33 MNT 15.5K
-58.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₹117
$1.02 MNT 3,670
18.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$21.8K MNT 78.2M
-36.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.2M
$16.1K MNT 57.7M
39.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Mongolia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.16 ₹3,866
$72.0 MNT 257.9K
-44.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.76 ₹362
$7.19 MNT 25.8K
-47.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹774
$14.26 MNT 51.1K
-43.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Mongolia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.25 ₹1,565
$48.95 MNT 175.4K
-66.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.56 ₹728
$12.88 MNT 46.2K
-41.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 ₹330
$3.59 MNT 12.9K
-4.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Mongolia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 ₹6,713
$174 MNT 623.0K
-59.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,852 ₹178.3K
$6,450 MNT 23.1M
-71.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Mongolia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.59 ₹2,463
$75.2 MNT 269.5K
-65.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.30 ₹2,531
$61.4 MNT 220.1K
-57.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.89 ₹4,321
$99.5 MNT 356.6K
-54.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.20 ₹3,196
$132 MNT 473.9K
-74.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Mongolia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₹16.8K
$480 MNT 1.7M
-63.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 ₹10.8K
$372 MNT 1.3M
-69.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹38.9K
$1,346 MNT 4.8M
-69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ₹24.8K
$740 MNT 2.7M
-65.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 ₹121.6K
$1,828 MNT 6.6M
-30.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₹62.8K
$932 MNT 3.3M
-29.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Mongolia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 ₹40.8K
$595 MNT 2.1M
-28.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
6
50.33%

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

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mongolia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $206 in Mongolia. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $511 in Ulaanbaatar.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $451 in Mongolia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 62% higher in Mongolia.

Dining out costs 100% more in Mongolia.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 13% higher in Mongolia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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
India vs Mongolia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Mongolia?
At $589 per month in India and $564 in Mongolia, there's a 5% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Mongolia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in India is consistently higher than in Mongolia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Mongolia?
In Mongolia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in India it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Mongolia?
It depends on what you're after: Mongolia wins on affordability; India may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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