🙂A single person spends $620 per month in Mongolia vs $2,547 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,016 per month in Mongolia vs $3,678 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,411 per month in Mongolia vs $4,808 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Mongolia is roughly 76% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Mongolia sits 55% below the global median, while Australia is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.61MNT 20.2K
$17.74A$24.73
-68.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.00MNT 111.5K
$86.9A$121
-64.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30MNT 19.1K
$11.35A$15.82
-53.30%
Cappuccino
$2.34MNT 8,430
$3.99A$5.57
-41.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MNT 2,848
$2.97A$4.14
-73.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MNT 2,069
$2.51A$3.50
-76.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33MNT 8,371
$7.75A$10.80
-69.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41MNT 12.3K
$8.07A$11.25
-57.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MNT 5,082
$1.76A$2.46
-19.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94MNT 3,390
$2.87A$4.00
-67.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10MNT 7,553
$2.37A$3.31
-11.39%
Eggs
$2.11MNT 7,574
$5.11A$7.13
-58.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50MNT 34.2K
$10.13A$14.13
-6.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.13MNT 18.5K
$9.57A$13.35
-46.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.52MNT 23.5K
$15.59A$21.74
-58.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09MNT 11.1K
$3.83A$5.34
-19.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19MNT 7,889
$3.13A$4.36
-30.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78MNT 13.6K
$3.35A$4.67
12.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06MNT 11.0K
$4.88A$6.80
-37.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78MNT 2,803
$2.92A$4.07
-73.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MNT 3,372
$2.36A$3.29
-60.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67MNT 5,988
$2.46A$3.43
-32.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MNT 2,731
$1.70A$2.38
-55.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69MNT 6,093
$39.46A$55.0
-95.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.63MNT 34.6K
$14.69A$20.48
-34.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44MNT 5,180
$5.07A$7.07
-71.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77MNT 6,375
$5.36A$7.48
-66.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29MNT 1,054
$2.84A$3.96
-89.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.82MNT 60.5K
$97.3A$136
-82.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51MNT 1,828
$3.56A$4.96
-85.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57MNT 2,064
$1.68A$2.34
-66.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22MNT 22.4K
$40.94A$57.1
-84.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05MNT 3,779
$1.35A$1.88
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KMNT 99.7M
$29.1KA$40.5K
-4.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KMNT 116.2M
$29.5KA$41.1K
9.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.5MNT 257.1K
$207A$289
-65.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.32MNT 26.3K
$29.34A$40.91
-75.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.23MNT 44.0K
$60.0A$83.7
-79.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.5MNT 242.7K
$59.3A$82.6
13.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.39MNT 62.5K
$20.28A$28.27
-14.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11MNT 14.8K
$16.04A$22.36
-74.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$771MNT 2.8M
$2,194A$3,059
-64.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,119MNT 29.2M
$18.6KA$26.0K
-56.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7MNT 283.1K
$81.1A$113
-2.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.67MNT 175.0K
$56.9A$79.3
-14.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MNT 362.5K
$119A$165
-15.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166MNT 598.0K
$126A$176
31.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575MNT 2.1M
$1,637A$2,282
-64.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433MNT 1.6M
$1,306A$1,821
-66.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MNT 5.9M
$2,589A$3,609
-36.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$989MNT 3.6M
$1,963A$2,737
-49.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,783MNT 6.4M
$8,394A$11.7K
-78.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$937MNT 3.4M
$6,140A$8,560
-84.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$580MNT 2.1M
$4,067A$5,670
-85.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.6
5.93
61.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mongolia: September 7, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $168 in Mongolia vs $1,426 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $586 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,845 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $444 in Mongolia vs $3,945 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 749% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 240% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1043% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 789% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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
Mongolia vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Mongolia?
Mongolia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 294% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Mongolia, contributing to the overall 294% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Mongolia?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mongolia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Mongolia?
Mongolia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.