Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandalgovi and Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandalgovi and Ulaanbaatar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $490 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A couple spends around $759 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,027 per month in Mandalgovi vs $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar, rent included.

Mandalgovi is about 58% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mandalgovi and Ulaanbaatar are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi 63% lower, Ulaanbaatar 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 MNT 9,697

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

-51.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.27 MNT 47.5K

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

-55.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-5.04%

Cappuccino

$1.95 MNT 6,969

$2.64 MNT 9,447

-26.14%

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

$0.54 MNT 1,939

$0.75 MNT 2,693

-28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MNT 1,083

$0.48 MNT 1,705

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 MNT 5,887

$2.11 MNT 7,547

-21.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MNT 6,712

$2.31 MNT 8,244

-18.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 MNT 4,127

$1.49 MNT 5,317

-22.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MNT 2,523

$0.98 MNT 3,489

-27.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 MNT 3,593

$2.14 MNT 7,648

-53.27%

Eggs

$1.80 MNT 6,449

$2.17 MNT 7,771

-17.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 MNT 32.0K

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

-44.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MNT 18.7K

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

-5.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.60 MNT 16.5K

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

-26.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 MNT 8,455

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

-23.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 MNT 7,947

$2.65 MNT 9,461

-16.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 MNT 6,958

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

-56.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 MNT 8,301

$2.68 MNT 9,566

-13.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 MNT 1,801

$0.75 MNT 2,698

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MNT 3,590

$1.02 MNT 3,662

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,541

$1.27 MNT 4,534

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MNT 2,164

$0.73 MNT 2,624

-16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.35 MNT 4,821

$1.79 MNT 6,384

-24.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 MNT 35.7K

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,804

$1.39 MNT 4,970

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 MNT 6,141

$1.71 MNT 6,132

0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 987

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.28 MNT 990

$0.62 MNT 2,210

-54.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MNT 1,088

$0.61 MNT 2,189

-50.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MNT 16.4K

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

-3.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MNT 2,929

$1.03 MNT 3,694

-20.39%

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

$19.7K MNT 70.4M

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

-34.87%

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

$13.0K MNT 46.6M

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

-29.78%

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

$41.71 MNT 149.1K

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

-48.75%

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

$7.43 MNT 26.6K

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

-4.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.61 MNT 37.9K

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

-37.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.91 MNT 106.9K

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

-50.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 MNT 16.0K

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

-66.82%

Cinema Ticket

$2.29 MNT 8,193

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

-39.10%

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

$101 MNT 361.5K

$177 MNT 632.8K

-42.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,340 MNT 22.7M

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

-2.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 MNT 56.9K

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

-81.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 MNT 68.1K

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

-72.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.42 MNT 158.9K

$105 MNT 375.2K

-57.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.73 MNT 127.8K

$161 MNT 577.2K

-77.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$104 MNT 372.4K

$512 MNT 1.8M

-79.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.6 MNT 259.8K

$405 MNT 1.4M

-82.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 MNT 800.5K

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

-84.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MNT 477.2K

$740 MNT 2.6M

-81.98%

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)

$601 MNT 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mandalgovi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $104 in Mandalgovi 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Mandalgovi versus $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $247 – making Mandalgovi 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

Mandalgovi vs Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $490 in Mandalgovi, $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar – roughly 137% apart. Ulaanbaatar costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $735 per month in Mandalgovi 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 Mandalgovi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $490 in Mandalgovi and $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Mandalgovi and $177 in Ulaanbaatar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $490, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,161. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mandalgovi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mandalgovi. 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.