Cost of Living Comparison Between Mongolia and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Mongolia and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $644 per month in Mongolia vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $993 per month in Mongolia vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,342 per month in Mongolia vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Mongolia is roughly 71% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Mongolia sits 52% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.61 MNT 16.5K
$16.44 A$23.33
-71.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.13 MNT 100.6K
$78.1 A$111
-63.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 MNT 19.3K
$9.94 A$14.11
-45.67%
Cappuccino
$2.58 MNT 9,218
$3.60 A$5.10
-28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MNT 2,594
$2.68 A$3.80
-72.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 MNT 1,568
$2.14 A$3.03
-79.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 MNT 6,775
$6.53 A$9.26
-71.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 MNT 8,318
$7.05 A$10.00
-66.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MNT 4,998
$1.58 A$2.24
-11.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 MNT 3,239
$2.53 A$3.59
-64.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MNT 6,871
$2.07 A$2.94
-7.25%
Eggs
$2.13 MNT 7,618
$4.30 A$6.11
-50.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.32 MNT 47.6K
$9.03 A$12.81
47.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.49 MNT 19.6K
$8.55 A$12.13
-35.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.61 MNT 20.0K
$13.96 A$19.80
-59.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MNT 10.9K
$3.18 A$4.51
-4.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 MNT 9,038
$2.84 A$4.03
-10.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 MNT 13.3K
$2.95 A$4.18
25.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 MNT 9,613
$4.43 A$6.29
-39.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 MNT 2,312
$2.46 A$3.48
-73.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 MNT 3,383
$2.17 A$3.08
-56.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 MNT 3,962
$2.29 A$3.25
-51.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 MNT 2,617
$1.57 A$2.23
-53.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 MNT 6,429
$30.87 A$43.79
-94.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.76 MNT 34.9K
$14.06 A$19.94
-30.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 MNT 4,746
$4.55 A$6.45
-70.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MNT 6,014
$4.81 A$6.83
-65.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 MNT 728
$2.87 A$4.07
-93.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.63 MNT 27.3K
$95.8 A$136
-92.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MNT 2,185
$3.65 A$5.17
-83.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 MNT 2,052
$1.76 A$2.50
-67.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MNT 15.6K
$38.27 A$54.3
-88.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 MNT 3,695
$1.15 A$1.63
-10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MNT 79.2M
$28.4K A$40.3K
-21.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0K MNT 57.4M
$23.0K A$32.6K
-30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.2 MNT 265.3K
$178 A$253
-58.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.60 MNT 27.2K
$26.46 A$37.53
-71.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.55 MNT 52.0K
$54.1 A$76.8
-73.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.98 MNT 178.7K
$46.64 A$66.2
7.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.57 MNT 45.0K
$16.54 A$23.47
-24.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.59 MNT 12.8K
$13.65 A$19.36
-73.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$177 MNT 634.5K
$1,575 A$2,234
-88.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,453 MNT 23.1M
$12.7K A$18.0K
-49.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9 MNT 264.2K
$71.5 A$101
3.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 MNT 221.5K
$50.8 A$72.1
21.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 MNT 352.6K
$100 A$142
-1.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 MNT 475.5K
$108 A$153
22.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 MNT 1.8M
$1,384 A$1,963
-64.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MNT 1.3M
$1,105 A$1,568
-66.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 MNT 4.7M
$2,298 A$3,260
-42.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$737 MNT 2.6M
$1,728 A$2,451
-57.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,806 MNT 6.5M
$7,610 A$10.8K
-76.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$940 MNT 3.4M
$5,504 A$7,808
-82.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$576 MNT 2.1M
$4,002 A$5,677
-85.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
6.35
-5.51%

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

Last update for Mongolia: June 8, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $208 in Mongolia vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $530 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,568 in Canberra.

Average salary: $447 in Mongolia vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 492% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 250% more in Australia.

Public transport is 2133% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 760% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 289% 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 289% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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.

Mongolia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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