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

😐 Solo nomad: Ulaanbaatar is 19.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ulaanbaatar is 26.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 29.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.68 MNT 20.2K
$1.98 ฿63.4
186.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.11 MNT 103.4K
$18.64 ฿596
56.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 MNT 19.6K
$7.90 ฿253
-30.00%
Cappuccino
$2.54 MNT 9,040
$1.99 ฿63.8
27.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MNT 2,580
$0.82 ฿26.29
-10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MNT 1,691
$0.33 ฿10.42
45.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 MNT 7,143
$2.17 ฿69.5
-7.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 MNT 8,101
$3.80 ฿122
-40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MNT 5,030
$1.64 ฿52.6
-13.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 MNT 3,635
$1.58 ฿50.5
-35.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 MNT 7,277
$1.19 ฿38.07
72.27%
Eggs
$2.19 MNT 7,764
$1.90 ฿60.9
15.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 MNT 56.7K
$15.99 ฿512
-0.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 MNT 20.9K
$3.13 ฿100
87.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.30 MNT 22.4K
$10.79 ฿345
-41.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 MNT 11.3K
$2.72 ฿87.1
16.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 MNT 9,497
$1.17 ฿37.57
128.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 MNT 15.4K
$1.65 ฿52.9
162.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 MNT 9,409
$1.53 ฿48.95
73.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MNT 2,565
$1.40 ฿44.77
-48.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 MNT 3,614
$1.20 ฿38.27
-15.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 MNT 4,462
$0.66 ฿21.26
90.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MNT 2,466
$0.53 ฿16.84
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74 MNT 6,174
$4.48 ฿143
-61.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 MNT 35.3K
$19.25 ฿616
-48.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 MNT 4,718
$1.84 ฿58.9
-27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 MNT 6,181
$3.16 ฿101
-44.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MNT 994
$0.89 ฿28.51
-68.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.71 MNT 30.9K
$18.97 ฿607
-54.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 MNT 2,057
$1.37 ฿43.81
-57.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 MNT 2,185
$1.36 ฿43.35
-55.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.65 MNT 16.5K
$8.16 ฿261
-43.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 MNT 3,703
$1.23 ฿39.46
-15.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MNT 108.4M
$21.7K ฿695.4K
40.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K MNT 65.5M
$22.0K ฿704.3K
-16.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MNT 295.1K
$70.2 ฿2,247
18.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.44 MNT 26.4K
$14.08 ฿450
-47.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.29 MNT 61.4K
$17.81 ฿570
-2.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 MNT 214.3K
$41.70 ฿1,334
44.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83 MNT 49.1K
$6.65 ฿213
107.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.86 MNT 13.7K
$5.82 ฿186
-33.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 MNT 617.4K
$310 ฿9,915
-43.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,503 MNT 23.1M
$14.7K ฿470.7K
-55.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 MNT 304.3K
$56.5 ฿1,808
51.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 MNT 248.4K
$26.79 ฿857
160.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MNT 370.5K
$83.2 ฿2,662
25.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 MNT 555.2K
$71.1 ฿2,274
119.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$527 MNT 1.9M
$430 ฿13.8K
22.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$403 MNT 1.4M
$237 ฿7,589
69.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,450 MNT 5.2M
$821 ฿26.2K
76.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 MNT 2.6M
$507 ฿16.2K
46.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,948 MNT 6.9M
$2,088 ฿66.8K
-6.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$972 MNT 3.5M
$1,525 ฿48.8K
-36.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$601 MNT 2.1M
$644 ฿20.6K
-6.69%
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: March 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 10, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities