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 $646 per month in Mongolia vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,007 per month in Mongolia vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,367 per month in Mongolia vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Mongolia is roughly 76% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Mongolia sits 52% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 MNT 17.0K

$20.04 $20.04

-76.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 MNT 102.8K

$76.0 $76.0

-62.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 MNT 19.1K

$11.42 $11.42

-53.15%

Cappuccino

$2.51 MNT 8,976

$5.39 $5.39

-53.43%

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

$0.73 MNT 2,612

$2.55 $2.55

-71.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MNT 1,594

$2.04 $2.04

-77.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 MNT 6,731

$6.14 $6.14

-69.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MNT 8,256

$7.18 $7.18

-67.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MNT 4,910

$1.04 $1.04

31.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 MNT 3,237

$3.65 $3.65

-75.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 MNT 6,640

$4.73 $4.73

-60.68%

Eggs

$2.08 MNT 7,455

$4.38 $4.38

-52.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 MNT 47.0K

$12.76 $12.76

2.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 MNT 19.7K

$12.42 $12.42

-55.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 MNT 19.2K

$16.41 $16.41

-67.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MNT 10.5K

$5.42 $5.42

-45.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 MNT 9,036

$1.65 $1.65

53.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 MNT 13.3K

$4.59 $4.59

-18.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 MNT 9,288

$4.91 $4.91

-47.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MNT 2,483

$2.92 $2.92

-76.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MNT 3,611

$3.13 $3.13

-67.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MNT 3,796

$2.26 $2.26

-53.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MNT 2,521

$2.30 $2.30

-69.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 MNT 6,198

$9.89 $9.89

-82.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.56 MNT 34.2K

$15.10 $15.10

-36.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 MNT 4,495

$1.91 $1.91

-34.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MNT 5,765

$3.66 $3.66

-56.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MNT 756

$2.48 $2.48

-91.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.86 MNT 28.1K

$64.8 $64.8

-87.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 MNT 2,034

$3.84 $3.84

-85.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 MNT 2,207

$1.76 $1.76

-64.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 MNT 15.8K

$30.58 $30.58

-85.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 MNT 3,559

$0.96 $0.96

4.17%

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

$21.5K MNT 77.0M

$30.5K $30.5K

-29.37%

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

$16.3K MNT 58.4M

$26.4K $26.4K

-38.09%

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

$73.5 MNT 262.7K

$204 $204

-64.01%

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

$7.57 MNT 27.1K

$57.3 $57.3

-86.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.38 MNT 51.4K

$71.2 $71.2

-79.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.69 MNT 177.7K

$46.67 $46.67

6.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.94 MNT 46.3K

$22.12 $22.12

-41.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 MNT 12.8K

$13.84 $13.84

-74.13%

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

$175 MNT 626.1K

$1,384 $1,384

-87.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,577 MNT 23.5M

$22.7K $22.7K

-71.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.4 MNT 262.5K

$53.0 $53.0

38.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 MNT 213.8K

$43.17 $43.17

38.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 MNT 357.0K

$90.6 $90.6

10.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 MNT 474.3K

$114 $114

16.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 MNT 1.7M

$1,766 $1,766

-72.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 MNT 1.3M

$1,459 $1,459

-74.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 MNT 4.7M

$2,832 $2,832

-53.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 MNT 2.6M

$2,411 $2,411

-70.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,825 MNT 6.5M

$3,287 $3,287

-44.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$960 MNT 3.4M

$2,650 $2,650

-63.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 MNT 2.1M

$4,379 $4,379

-86.38%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $205 in Mongolia vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $512 in Ulaanbaatar and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $454 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 699% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 232% more in United States.

Public transport is 733% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 891% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mongolia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 453% 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 453% 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.