Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Ulaanbaatar is 21.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ulaanbaatar is 23.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 31.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.44 MNT 19.4K
$2.02 ฿65.3
169.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.87 MNT 103.2K
$18.78 ฿608
53.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 MNT 20K
$7.67 ฿248
-27.25%
Cappuccino
$2.52 MNT 9,023
$1.98 ฿64.2
27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MNT 2,524
$0.82 ฿26.64
-13.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MNT 1,670
$0.33 ฿10.58
42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 MNT 7,450
$2.12 ฿68.6
-1.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.4 MNT 8,594
$3.73 ฿121
-35.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MNT 5,229
$1.64 ฿53.2
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MNT 3,668
$1.57 ฿50.9
-34.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 MNT 7,226
$1.19 ฿38.62
69.75%
Eggs
$2.15 MNT 7,682
$1.98 ฿64.1
8.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.82 MNT 56.6K
$15.99 ฿517
-1.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 MNT 20.8K
$3.12 ฿101
86.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.31 MNT 22.6K
$11.16 ฿361
-43.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 MNT 11.2K
$2.76 ฿89.2
13.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 MNT 9,174
$1.22 ฿39.5
110.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 MNT 15.6K
$1.71 ฿55.4
155.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 MNT 9,814
$1.55 ฿50.2
76.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 MNT 2,750
$1.34 ฿43.21
-42.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 MNT 3,622
$1.21 ฿39.23
-16.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 MNT 4,694
$0.72 ฿23.2
81.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MNT 2,456
$0.53 ฿17.05
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72 MNT 6,156
$4.72 ฿153
-63.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.57 MNT 34.2K
$18.39 ฿595
-47.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 MNT 4,936
$1.79 ฿57.9
-22.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 MNT 6,220
$3.21 ฿104
-45.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 MNT 1,086
$0.94 ฿30.44
-68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.75 MNT 31.3K
$18.9 ฿612
-53.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MNT 2,188
$1.42 ฿46.08
-57.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.6 MNT 2,156
$1.35 ฿43.53
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 MNT 16.4K
$7.85 ฿254
-41.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 MNT 3,856
$1.25 ฿40.4
-13.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MNT 108.5M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
43.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K MNT 65.8M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-15.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.7 MNT 292.1K
$70.6 ฿2,285
15.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.52 MNT 26.9K
$13.72 ฿444
-45.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.3 MNT 61.9K
$17.56 ฿568
-1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 MNT 218.6K
$41.64 ฿1,347
46.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14 MNT 50.1K
$6.9 ฿223
102.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.87 MNT 13.8K
$5.8 ฿188
-33.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 MNT 619.9K
$308 ฿9,963
-43.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,495 MNT 23.2M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-55.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 MNT 303K
$55.4 ฿1,793
52.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.8 MNT 249.6K
$26.4 ฿854
164.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MNT 362.3K
$85.1 ฿2,755
19.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 MNT 579.3K
$71.8 ฿2,323
125.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$517 MNT 1.8M
$434 ฿14K
19.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$411 MNT 1.5M
$235 ฿7,610
74.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 MNT 5.4M
$821 ฿26.6K
83.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 MNT 2.7M
$498 ฿16.1K
51.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,834 MNT 6.6M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-15.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$889 MNT 3.2M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-42.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$531 MNT 1.9M
$703 ฿22.8K
-24.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5
20.00%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.