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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Mongolia versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Mongolia versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Mongolia versus $846 in India.

Living in Mongolia is roughly 66% more expensive than India on average.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mongolia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 MNT 17.0K
$2.49 ₹237
90.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.76 MNT 102.8K
$14.20 ₹1,353
102.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.35 MNT 19.1K
$3.98 ₹379
34.42%
Cappuccino
$2.51 MNT 8,976
$1.88 ₹179
33.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MNT 2,612
$0.44 ₹41.98
65.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MNT 1,594
$0.19 ₹18.57
136.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 MNT 6,731
$2.02 ₹192
-6.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 MNT 8,256
$3.45 ₹329
-33.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mongolia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 MNT 4,910
$0.72 ₹68.3
90.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 MNT 3,237
$0.52 ₹49.26
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MNT 6,640
$0.72 ₹68.7
158.33%
Eggs
$2.08 MNT 7,455
$0.93 ₹88.8
123.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 MNT 47.0K
$5.24 ₹499
150.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 MNT 19.7K
$3.07 ₹292
79.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.38 MNT 19.2K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MNT 10.5K
$2.17 ₹207
35.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 MNT 9,036
$0.76 ₹72.2
232.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 MNT 13.3K
$1.05 ₹100
254.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.60 MNT 9,288
$0.53 ₹50.7
390.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 MNT 2,483
$0.39 ₹37.53
76.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 MNT 3,611
$0.49 ₹46.81
106.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MNT 3,796
$0.52 ₹49.35
103.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 MNT 2,521
$0.33 ₹31.13
115.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 MNT 6,198
$4.05 ₹386
-57.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.56 MNT 34.2K
$7.39 ₹704
29.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MNT 4,495
$1.84 ₹175
-31.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MNT 5,765
$2.90 ₹277
-44.48%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mongolia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 MNT 756
$0.36 ₹34.59
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.86 MNT 28.1K
$9.74 ₹928
-19.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MNT 2,034
$0.95 ₹90.6
-40.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 MNT 2,207
$0.30 ₹28.64
106.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 MNT 15.8K
$1.73 ₹165
155.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 MNT 3,559
$1.23 ₹117
-18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K MNT 77.0M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
55.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.3K MNT 58.4M
$22.6K ₹2.2M
-27.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mongolia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.5 MNT 262.7K
$40.88 ₹3,894
79.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57 MNT 27.1K
$3.91 ₹372
93.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.38 MNT 51.4K
$7.81 ₹744
84.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mongolia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.69 MNT 177.7K
$16.15 ₹1,538
207.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.94 MNT 46.3K
$7.49 ₹713
72.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 MNT 12.8K
$3.42 ₹326
4.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mongolia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 MNT 626.1K
$69.9 ₹6,660
150.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,577 MNT 23.5M
$1,793 ₹170.8K
266.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mongolia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4 MNT 262.5K
$25.83 ₹2,460
184.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8 MNT 213.8K
$26.61 ₹2,535
124.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 MNT 357.0K
$45.24 ₹4,309
120.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 MNT 474.3K
$33.68 ₹3,208
293.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mongolia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 MNT 1.7M
$178 ₹17.0K
173.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 MNT 1.3M
$115 ₹10.9K
227.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 MNT 4.7M
$407 ₹38.8K
224.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$718 MNT 2.6M
$264 ₹25.1K
172.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,825 MNT 6.5M
$1,240 ₹118.1K
47.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$960 MNT 3.4M
$631 ₹60.1K
52.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mongolia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$596 MNT 2.1M
$432 ₹41.2K
38.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
9.02
-33.48%

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

Last update for Mongolia: May 31, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $205 in Mongolia, $127 in India. Capital cities: $512 in Ulaanbaatar vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $454 in Mongolia, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 61% higher in Mongolia.

Dining out costs 100% more in Mongolia.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 14% higher in Mongolia, giving India 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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Mongolia?
At $576 per month in India and $581 in Mongolia, there's a 1% 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Mongolia beats India 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 Mongolia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Mongolia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Mongolia?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Mongolia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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