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 $620 per month in Mongolia vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,016 per month in Mongolia vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,411 per month in Mongolia vs $5,033 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 55% below the global median, while United States is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 MNT 20.2K

$19.83 $19.83

-71.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.00 MNT 111.5K

$78.8 $78.8

-60.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.30 MNT 19.1K

$12.19 $12.19

-56.52%

Cappuccino

$2.34 MNT 8,430

$5.59 $5.59

-58.14%

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

$0.79 MNT 2,848

$2.78 $2.78

-71.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MNT 2,069

$2.18 $2.18

-73.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 MNT 8,371

$5.86 $5.86

-60.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MNT 12.3K

$8.02 $8.02

-57.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MNT 5,082

$1.07 $1.07

31.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MNT 3,390

$3.68 $3.68

-74.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 MNT 7,553

$4.66 $4.66

-54.94%

Eggs

$2.11 MNT 7,574

$4.20 $4.20

-49.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 MNT 34.2K

$12.78 $12.78

-25.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 MNT 18.5K

$12.40 $12.40

-58.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.52 MNT 23.5K

$16.90 $16.90

-61.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 MNT 11.1K

$5.23 $5.23

-40.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 MNT 7,889

$1.66 $1.66

31.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 MNT 13.6K

$4.33 $4.33

-12.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 MNT 11.0K

$4.96 $4.96

-38.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MNT 2,803

$2.82 $2.82

-72.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 MNT 3,372

$3.11 $3.11

-69.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MNT 5,988

$2.19 $2.19

-23.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MNT 2,731

$2.26 $2.26

-66.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.69 MNT 6,093

$10.35 $10.35

-83.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.63 MNT 34.6K

$14.81 $14.81

-34.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 MNT 5,180

$2.09 $2.09

-31.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 MNT 6,375

$3.65 $3.65

-51.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 MNT 1,054

$2.38 $2.38

-87.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.82 MNT 60.5K

$64.5 $64.5

-73.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 MNT 1,828

$3.54 $3.54

-85.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 MNT 2,064

$1.86 $1.86

-69.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 MNT 22.4K

$30.34 $30.34

-79.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 MNT 3,779

$1.00 $1.00

5.00%

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

$27.7K MNT 99.7M

$35.5K $35.5K

-22.00%

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

$32.3K MNT 116.2M

$25.9K $25.9K

24.96%

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

$71.5 MNT 257.1K

$222 $222

-67.82%

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

$7.32 MNT 26.3K

$61.1 $61.1

-88.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.23 MNT 44.0K

$74.7 $74.7

-83.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 MNT 242.7K

$44.49 $44.49

51.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 MNT 62.5K

$22.35 $22.35

-22.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 MNT 14.8K

$15.03 $15.03

-72.65%

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

$771 MNT 2.8M

$1,431 $1,431

-46.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 MNT 29.2M

$25.9K $25.9K

-68.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 MNT 283.1K

$53.6 $53.6

46.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.67 MNT 175.0K

$43.46 $43.46

11.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MNT 362.5K

$91.5 $91.5

10.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$166 MNT 598.0K

$114 $114

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MNT 2.1M

$1,633 $1,633

-64.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 MNT 1.6M

$1,328 $1,328

-67.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MNT 5.9M

$2,606 $2,606

-36.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$989 MNT 3.6M

$2,206 $2,206

-55.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,783 MNT 6.4M

$3,323 $3,323

-46.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$937 MNT 3.4M

$2,653 $2,653

-64.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 MNT 2.1M

$4,306 $4,306

-86.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.6

6.21

54.59%

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

Last update for Mongolia: September 7, 2026

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $168 in Mongolia vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $586 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $444 in Mongolia vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 855% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 200% more in United States.

Public transport is 286% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 919% 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 442% 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 442% 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.