Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mongolia and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Mongolia: $1,161 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

56

Cost of Living Index in Mongolia
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Mongolia Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇲🇳 Mongolia

$1,161

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mongolia and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mongolia and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,161 per month in Mongolia vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

Mongolia $1,161
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $1,847 per month in Mongolia vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

Mongolia $1,847
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $2,532 per month in Mongolia vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

Mongolia $2,532
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Mongolia ($376–$1,192), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Mongolia is roughly 58% lower than in the United States on average.

Mongolia sits 15% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.63 MNT 20.2K

$20.03 $20.03

-71.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.11 MNT 104.6K

$80.0 $80.0

-63.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 MNT 19.9K

$11.80 $11.80

-53.14%

Cappuccino

$2.42 MNT 8,712

$5.55 $5.55

-56.40%

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

$0.86 MNT 3,097

$2.66 $2.66

-67.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MNT 2,057

$2.17 $2.17

-73.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 MNT 8,249

$6.12 $6.12

-62.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 MNT 12.1K

$7.94 $7.94

-57.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MNT 4,895

$1.04 $1.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MNT 3,583

$3.59 $3.59

-72.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MNT 7,423

$4.52 $4.52

-54.20%

Eggs

$2.06 MNT 7,417

$4.28 $4.28

-51.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MNT 35.0K

$13.22 $13.22

-26.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 MNT 18.6K

$12.60 $12.60

-58.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.51 MNT 23.4K

$17.60 $17.60

-63.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MNT 10.7K

$5.30 $5.30

-43.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 MNT 7,938

$1.69 $1.69

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.67 MNT 13.2K

$4.44 $4.44

-17.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 MNT 10.6K

$4.77 $4.77

-37.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 MNT 2,931

$2.97 $2.97

-72.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 MNT 3,171

$3.15 $3.15

-72.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MNT 5,992

$2.20 $2.20

-24.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MNT 2,739

$2.35 $2.35

-67.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 MNT 6,101

$10.98 $10.98

-84.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.51 MNT 34.2K

$15.05 $15.05

-36.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 MNT 5,085

$2.06 $2.06

-31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 MNT 6,313

$3.79 $3.79

-53.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 MNT 968

$1.94 $1.94

-86.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.52 MNT 59.4K

$59.4 $59.4

-72.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 MNT 1,847

$3.58 $3.58

-85.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MNT 2,029

$1.88 $1.88

-70.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.41 MNT 23.1K

$29.84 $29.84

-78.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 MNT 4,172

$1.02 $1.02

13.73%

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

$27.4K MNT 98.4M

$28.8K $28.8K

-4.77%

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

$31.7K MNT 113.8M

$26.2K $26.2K

20.84%

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

$72.1 MNT 259.1K

$218 $218

-66.93%

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

$7.11 MNT 25.6K

$62.5 $62.5

-88.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.32 MNT 44.3K

$74.5 $74.5

-83.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 MNT 237.0K

$41.86 $41.86

57.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.40 MNT 62.5K

$22.81 $22.81

-23.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

$14.70 $14.70

-72.24%

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

$645 MNT 2.3M

$1,489 $1,489

-56.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,038 MNT 28.9M

$25.3K $25.3K

-68.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 MNT 284.6K

$54.3 $54.3

45.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.63 MNT 178.4K

$42.71 $42.71

16.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MNT 366.7K

$94.1 $94.1

8.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 MNT 598.4K

$114 $114

46.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 MNT 2.3M

$1,659 $1,659

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 MNT 1.7M

$1,348 $1,348

-65.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 MNT 5.7M

$2,682 $2,682

-40.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$947 MNT 3.4M

$2,169 $2,169

-56.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,785 MNT 6.4M

$3,283 $3,283

-45.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$982 MNT 3.5M

$2,482 $2,482

-60.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 MNT 2.1M

$4,296 $4,296

-86.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.6

6.55

46.56%

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

Last update for Mongolia: October 27, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mongolia

$459 39.5%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 193% $888

Groceries & Markets

Mongolia

$222 19.1%

United States

$415 15.2% 87.1% $193

Clothing & Footwear

Mongolia

$179 15.4%

United States

$137 5% 23.3% $42

Eating Out

Mongolia

$115 9.9%

United States

$328 12% 186% $213

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mongolia

$92 7.9%

United States

$355 13% 288% $263

Sport & Entertainment

Mongolia

$74 6.4%

United States

$71 2.6% 3.8% $2.8

Getting Around

Mongolia

$21 1.8%

United States

$80 2.9% 283% $59

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $530 in Mongolia vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $636 in Ulaanbaatar and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $449 in Mongolia vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 206% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 150% more in the United States.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 10 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇲🇳 Mongolia

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

20:27 8:27 PM

08:27 8:27 AM

12 h behind Mongolia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,409,939

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Mongolian Tögrög MNT ₮

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD

10,000 MNT = 2.49 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MNT – Mongolian Tögrög Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇳 Mongolian Tögrög (₮)

Mongolian Tögrög exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,594 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 4,011 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.49 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to MNT in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Mongolia United States 10,620 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Mongolia
United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 58% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $530 in Mongolia.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Mongolia – part of why living there is about 58% cheaper overall.

Mongolia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.