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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,127 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,770 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,413 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ulaanbaatar costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ulaanbaatar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ulaanbaatar 16% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

$1.96 ฿65.7

174.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

$18.35 ฿616

57.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$7.48 ฿251

-29.41%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MNT 9,154

$2.02 ฿67.7

26.24%

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

$0.76 MNT 2,714

$0.85 ฿28.45

-10.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,830

$0.36 ฿11.94

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 MNT 7,526

$2.14 ฿71.7

-1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 MNT 8,379

$3.59 ฿121

-34.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MNT 5,132

$1.65 ฿55.4

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,522

$1.57 ฿52.6

-37.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MNT 7,567

$1.19 ฿39.95

77.31%

Eggs

$2.09 MNT 7,499

$1.94 ฿65.0

7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

$16.19 ฿544

-3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

$2.99 ฿100

92.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

$10.94 ฿367

-40.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

$2.71 ฿91.0

16.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,554

$1.17 ฿39.18

128.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

$1.69 ฿56.6

153.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,581

$1.60 ฿53.9

66.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MNT 2,589

$1.38 ฿46.45

-47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MNT 3,625

$1.20 ฿40.38

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 MNT 4,638

$0.67 ฿22.46

92.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MNT 2,534

$0.56 ฿18.70

26.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,342

$4.64 ฿156

-61.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

$17.62 ฿591

-41.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,795

$1.86 ฿62.4

-27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,092

$3.30 ฿111

-48.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 991

$0.88 ฿29.63

-68.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

$19.34 ฿649

-54.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 MNT 2,011

$1.36 ฿45.82

-58.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MNT 2,024

$1.34 ฿44.90

-58.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

$8.21 ฿276

-43.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,860

$1.22 ฿41.11

-11.48%

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

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

42.68%

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

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

-18.38%

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

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

$70.7 ฿2,372

17.04%

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

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

$14.04 ฿471

-47.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

$17.49 ฿587

-4.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

$42.15 ฿1,415

47.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

$6.88 ฿231

99.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$5.92 ฿199

-36.49%

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

$175 MNT 628.2K

$309 ฿10.4K

-43.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-56.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

$55.8 ฿1,872

53.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

$26.11 ฿877

167.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.0K

$83.0 ฿2,787

26.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 MNT 573.3K

$70.5 ฿2,365

127.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MNT 1.8M

$432 ฿14.5K

18.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.5M

$239 ฿8,020

69.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

$822 ฿27.6K

82.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 MNT 2.7M

$512 ฿17.2K

47.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

$1,915 ฿64.3K

0.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MNT 3.4M

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-34.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 MNT 2.1M

$579 ฿19.4K

2.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.00%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $511 in Ulaanbaatar versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Ulaanbaatar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ulaanbaatar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulaanbaatar costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,690 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Ulaanbaatar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,127. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ulaanbaatar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.