🙂A single person spends $645 per month in Mongolia vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $998 per month in Mongolia vs $3,217 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,350 per month in Mongolia vs $4,249 in Australia, rent included.
🙂Mongolia is roughly 70% 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
$4.79MNT 17.2K
$16.24A$22.57
-70.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.59MNT 102.6K
$77.1A$107
-62.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.22MNT 18.7K
$9.81A$13.64
-46.79%
Cappuccino
$2.61MNT 9,353
$3.58A$4.97
-27.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MNT 2,484
$2.57A$3.57
-73.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MNT 1,592
$2.18A$3.03
-79.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89MNT 6,764
$6.63A$9.22
-71.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40MNT 8,609
$7.12A$9.90
-66.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MNT 4,951
$1.50A$2.09
-8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91MNT 3,249
$2.53A$3.51
-64.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MNT 6,728
$2.07A$2.88
-9.18%
Eggs
$2.10MNT 7,533
$4.29A$5.96
-51.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27MNT 47.6K
$8.65A$12.02
53.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.42MNT 19.4K
$8.34A$11.60
-35.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.62MNT 20.2K
$13.90A$19.33
-59.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94MNT 10.5K
$3.30A$4.58
-10.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44MNT 8,756
$2.77A$3.85
-11.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.89MNT 14.0K
$2.95A$4.10
31.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70MNT 9,699
$4.19A$5.83
-35.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67MNT 2,399
$2.42A$3.36
-72.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04MNT 3,727
$2.10A$2.92
-50.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11MNT 3,987
$2.26A$3.14
-50.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MNT 2,652
$1.50A$2.09
-50.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80MNT 6,456
$31.58A$43.90
-94.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18MNT 32.9K
$14.29A$19.86
-35.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31MNT 4,707
$4.59A$6.38
-71.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MNT 5,823
$4.82A$6.70
-66.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21MNT 765
$3.02A$4.19
-93.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.89MNT 28.3K
$98.3A$137
-91.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58MNT 2,067
$3.48A$4.84
-83.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MNT 2,177
$1.75A$2.43
-65.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.43MNT 15.9K
$37.97A$52.8
-88.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03MNT 3,700
$1.21A$1.68
-14.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KMNT 79.2M
$29.0KA$40.4K
-24.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0KMNT 57.3M
$22.6KA$31.4K
-29.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9MNT 265.0K
$177A$247
-58.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.42MNT 26.6K
$26.85A$37.32
-72.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.70MNT 52.8K
$52.4A$72.9
-71.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.69MNT 174.7K
$47.57A$66.1
2.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.65MNT 45.4K
$16.46A$22.88
-23.15%
Cinema Ticket
$3.45MNT 12.4K
$13.73A$19.09
-74.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179MNT 642.8K
$1,593A$2,215
-88.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,554MNT 23.5M
$12.7KA$17.7K
-48.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7MNT 267.8K
$72.0A$100
3.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.7MNT 214.4K
$51.3A$71.3
16.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2MNT 355.8K
$103A$143
-3.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133MNT 476.9K
$108A$151
22.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481MNT 1.7M
$1,401A$1,947
-65.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364MNT 1.3M
$1,080A$1,501
-66.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,327MNT 4.8M
$2,340A$3,253
-43.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718MNT 2.6M
$1,756A$2,441
-59.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,767MNT 6.3M
$7,733A$10.7K
-77.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$930MNT 3.3M
$5,563A$7,733
-83.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mongolia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$561MNT 2.0M
$4,000A$5,560
-85.98%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $209 in Mongolia vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $523 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,529 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $444 in Mongolia vs $3,878 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 489% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 267% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 2133% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 773% 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 281% 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 281% 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.