Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar versus $668 in Darkhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,770 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,086 in Darkhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,413 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,504 in Darkhan.

Living in Ulaanbaatar is roughly 69% more expensive than in Darkhan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulaanbaatar 16% lower, Darkhan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

$5.41 MNT 19.4K

-0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

$29.32 MNT 105.1K

-1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$5.54 MNT 19.8K

-4.69%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MNT 9,154

$2.54 MNT 9,096

0.39%

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

$0.76 MNT 2,714

$0.72 MNT 2,566

5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,830

$0.51 MNT 1,825

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 MNT 7,526

$2.11 MNT 7,570

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 MNT 8,379

$2.30 MNT 8,252

1.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MNT 5,132

$1.44 MNT 5,149

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,522

$1.02 MNT 3,657

-3.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MNT 7,567

$2.14 MNT 7,667

-1.40%

Eggs

$2.09 MNT 7,499

$2.08 MNT 7,465

0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

$15.66 MNT 56.1K

-0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

$5.67 MNT 20.3K

1.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

$6.51 MNT 23.3K

-0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

$3.15 MNT 11.3K

0.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,554

$2.61 MNT 9,337

2.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

$4.25 MNT 15.2K

0.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,581

$2.71 MNT 9,709

-1.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MNT 2,589

$0.78 MNT 2,779

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MNT 3,625

$1.03 MNT 3,689

-1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 MNT 4,638

$1.24 MNT 4,456

4.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MNT 2,534

$0.75 MNT 2,703

-5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,342

$1.76 MNT 6,315

0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

$10.45 MNT 37.5K

-0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,795

$1.38 MNT 4,936

-2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,092

$1.71 MNT 6,137

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 991

$0.13 MNT 481

115.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 MNT 2,011

$0.30 MNT 1,089

86.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MNT 2,024

$0.62 MNT 2,213

-9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

$4.62 MNT 16.6K

0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,860

$1.08 MNT 3,877

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

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

$30.8K MNT 110.3M

-1.00%

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

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

$18.9K MNT 67.8M

-2.81%

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

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

$81.9 MNT 293.7K

0.94%

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

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

$7.40 MNT 26.5K

0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

$16.90 MNT 60.6K

-1.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$3.78 MNT 13.6K

-0.53%

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

$175 MNT 628.2K

$174 MNT 623.2K

0.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

$6,373 MNT 22.8M

1.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

$84.2 MNT 301.6K

2.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

$70.1 MNT 251.1K

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.0K

$102 MNT 363.9K

3.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 MNT 573.3K

$160 MNT 571.8K

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 MNT 2.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 MNT 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Darkhan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar vs $29.00 in Darkhan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $248 per month, with Ulaanbaatar cheaper across the board.

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 Darkhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Darkhan wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Ulaanbaatar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Darkhan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,690 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,001 in Darkhan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $175 in Ulaanbaatar versus $174 in Darkhan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Darkhan – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $668 in Darkhan versus $1,127 in Ulaanbaatar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Darkhan but tight or insufficient in Ulaanbaatar. The gap between the two cities makes Darkhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Darkhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.