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: $643 in Mongolia versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,001 in Mongolia versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,359 in Mongolia versus $846 in India.

Living in Mongolia is roughly 66% more expensive than in 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
$4.67 MNT 16.7K
$2.53 ₹244
84.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.79 MNT 103.2K
$13.73 ₹1,322
109.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 MNT 18.9K
$4.00 ₹385
32.00%
Cappuccino
$2.58 MNT 9,263
$1.91 ₹184
35.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 MNT 2,671
$0.43 ₹41.85
74.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MNT 1,601
$0.17 ₹16.11
164.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.87 MNT 6,717
$1.93 ₹186
-3.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 MNT 8,174
$3.54 ₹341
-35.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mongolia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 MNT 4,905
$0.73 ₹69.9
87.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 MNT 3,497
$0.52 ₹50.1
88.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MNT 6,655
$0.73 ₹69.9
154.79%
Eggs
$2.14 MNT 7,655
$0.95 ₹91.4
125.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.09 MNT 46.9K
$5.32 ₹512
146.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 MNT 19.9K
$3.10 ₹299
78.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.66 MNT 20.3K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MNT 10.9K
$2.16 ₹208
41.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 MNT 9,004
$0.70 ₹67.7
258.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 MNT 13.3K
$1.05 ₹101
252.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 MNT 9,591
$0.53 ₹50.8
405.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 MNT 2,332
$0.39 ₹37.66
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 MNT 3,668
$0.48 ₹46.64
112.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 MNT 3,955
$0.52 ₹49.78
111.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MNT 2,487
$0.36 ₹34.33
91.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.82 MNT 6,521
$4.02 ₹387
-54.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.79 MNT 35.1K
$7.28 ₹701
34.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 MNT 4,485
$1.90 ₹183
-34.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MNT 6,078
$3.03 ₹292
-43.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.84 ₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mongolia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 MNT 588
$0.36 ₹34.66
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.52 MNT 26.9K
$9.84 ₹948
-23.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 MNT 2,065
$0.95 ₹91.8
-38.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 MNT 2,164
$0.30 ₹29.03
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 MNT 15.5K
$1.79 ₹172
141.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 MNT 3,670
$1.21 ₹117
-15.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MNT 78.2M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
57.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K MNT 57.7M
$22.4K ₹2.2M
-28.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mongolia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.0 MNT 257.9K
$40.16 ₹3,867
79.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.19 MNT 25.8K
$3.76 ₹362
91.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.26 MNT 51.1K
$8.04 ₹774
77.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mongolia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.95 MNT 175.4K
$16.25 ₹1,565
201.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.88 MNT 46.2K
$7.56 ₹728
70.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.59 MNT 12.9K
$3.43 ₹330
4.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mongolia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 MNT 623.0K
$69.7 ₹6,713
149.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,450 MNT 23.1M
$1,852 ₹178.3K
248.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mongolia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 MNT 269.5K
$25.59 ₹2,463
193.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4 MNT 220.1K
$26.30 ₹2,532
133.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 MNT 356.6K
$44.89 ₹4,322
121.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 MNT 473.9K
$33.20 ₹3,197
298.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mongolia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 MNT 1.7M
$174 ₹16.8K
175.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 MNT 1.3M
$112 ₹10.8K
230.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 MNT 4.8M
$405 ₹39.0K
232.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 MNT 2.7M
$258 ₹24.8K
187.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,828 MNT 6.6M
$1,263 ₹121.6K
44.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$932 MNT 3.3M
$653 ₹62.8K
42.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mongolia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 MNT 2.1M
$424 ₹40.8K
40.24%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $206 in Mongolia, $127 in India. Capital cities: $511 in Ulaanbaatar vs $242 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $451 in Mongolia, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 62% higher in Mongolia.

Dining out costs 100% more in Mongolia.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 13% higher in Mongolia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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 $589 per month in India and $564 in Mongolia, there's a 5% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Mongolia: 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 India is consistently higher than in Mongolia 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 in Mongolia?
In Mongolia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in India it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Mongolia?
It depends on what you're after: Mongolia wins on affordability; India may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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