Cost of Living Comparison Between Mongolia and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Mongolia and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $643 per month in Mongolia vs $2,642 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Mongolia vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,359 per month in Mongolia vs $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Mongolia is roughly 76% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Mongolia sits 52% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 MNT 16.7K

$19.63 $19.63

-76.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.79 MNT 103.2K

$75.4 $75.4

-61.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$11.57 $11.57

-54.36%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MNT 9,263

$5.22 $5.22

-50.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 MNT 2,671

$2.49 $2.49

-69.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MNT 1,601

$2.06 $2.06

-78.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 MNT 6,717

$5.91 $5.91

-68.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 MNT 8,174

$7.13 $7.13

-68.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MNT 4,905

$1.09 $1.09

25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,497

$3.56 $3.56

-72.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 MNT 6,655

$4.74 $4.74

-60.76%

Eggs

$2.14 MNT 7,655

$4.34 $4.34

-50.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 MNT 46.9K

$12.68 $12.68

3.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 MNT 19.9K

$12.28 $12.28

-54.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.66 MNT 20.3K

$16.60 $16.60

-65.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MNT 10.9K

$5.16 $5.16

-40.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 MNT 9,004

$1.70 $1.70

47.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 MNT 13.3K

$4.45 $4.45

-16.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 MNT 9,591

$4.80 $4.80

-44.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 MNT 2,332

$2.93 $2.93

-77.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,668

$3.09 $3.09

-66.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 MNT 3,955

$2.22 $2.22

-50.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MNT 2,487

$2.25 $2.25

-69.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 MNT 6,521

$9.90 $9.90

-81.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 MNT 35.1K

$15.28 $15.28

-35.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 MNT 4,485

$1.91 $1.91

-34.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,078

$3.58 $3.58

-52.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 MNT 588

$2.46 $2.46

-93.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.52 MNT 26.9K

$64.6 $64.6

-88.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 MNT 2,065

$3.77 $3.77

-84.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 MNT 2,164

$1.71 $1.71

-64.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 MNT 15.5K

$30.08 $30.08

-85.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 MNT 3,670

$0.96 $0.96

6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K MNT 78.2M

$29.9K $29.9K

-26.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.1K MNT 57.7M

$26.1K $26.1K

-38.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$72.0 MNT 257.9K

$210 $210

-65.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.19 MNT 25.8K

$56.3 $56.3

-87.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.26 MNT 51.1K

$72.9 $72.9

-80.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.95 MNT 175.4K

$45.39 $45.39

7.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.88 MNT 46.2K

$21.60 $21.60

-40.37%

Cinema Ticket

$3.59 MNT 12.9K

$14.04 $14.04

-74.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$174 MNT 623.0K

$1,377 $1,377

-87.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,450 MNT 23.1M

$22.4K $22.4K

-71.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.2 MNT 269.5K

$52.7 $52.7

42.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.4 MNT 220.1K

$42.41 $42.41

44.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 MNT 356.6K

$91.8 $91.8

8.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 MNT 473.9K

$114 $114

16.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 MNT 1.7M

$1,765 $1,765

-72.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 MNT 1.3M

$1,462 $1,462

-74.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 MNT 4.8M

$2,849 $2,849

-52.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.7M

$2,369 $2,369

-68.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,828 MNT 6.6M

$3,364 $3,364

-45.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$932 MNT 3.3M

$2,665 $2,665

-65.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 MNT 2.1M

$4,378 $4,378

-86.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

-7.83%

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

Last update for Mongolia: July 13, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $206 in Mongolia vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $511 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $451 in Mongolia vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 694% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 232% more in United States.

Public transport is 733% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 898% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mongolia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 478% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Mongolia, contributing to the overall 478% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mongolia, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.