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: $1,195 in Ulaanbaatar versus $654 in Darkhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,060 in Darkhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,614 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,467 in Darkhan.

Living in Ulaanbaatar is roughly 83% more expensive than in Darkhan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulaanbaatar 13% lower, Darkhan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.66 MNT 20.4K

$5.43 MNT 19.5K

4.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.72 MNT 114.0K

$32.27 MNT 116.0K

-1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 MNT 19.5K

$5.51 MNT 19.8K

-1.63%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MNT 8,823

$2.38 MNT 8,564

2.94%

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

$0.84 MNT 3,024

$0.90 MNT 3,238

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MNT 2,207

$0.58 MNT 2,072

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 MNT 8,324

$2.41 MNT 8,666

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MNT 12.2K

$3.30 MNT 11.9K

2.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MNT 5,094

$1.39 MNT 5,011

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,526

$0.97 MNT 3,494

1.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MNT 7,444

$2.02 MNT 7,245

2.48%

Eggs

$2.14 MNT 7,687

$2.07 MNT 7,446

3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 MNT 44.0K

$12.28 MNT 44.1K

-0.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MNT 17.1K

$4.81 MNT 17.3K

-1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 MNT 26.0K

$7.28 MNT 26.2K

-0.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 MNT 11.5K

$3.18 MNT 11.4K

0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 MNT 8,913

$2.42 MNT 8,716

2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 MNT 13.3K

$3.80 MNT 13.7K

-2.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

$2.97 MNT 10.7K

4.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 MNT 2,538

$0.76 MNT 2,727

-6.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 MNT 3,879

$1.03 MNT 3,710

4.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MNT 6,012

$1.75 MNT 6,286

-4.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MNT 2,661

$0.78 MNT 2,800

-5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,346

$1.73 MNT 6,203

2.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 MNT 38.0K

$10.51 MNT 37.8K

0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 MNT 5,218

$1.44 MNT 5,160

0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 MNT 6,487

$1.74 MNT 6,261

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 MNT 967

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.92 MNT 60.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 MNT 1,948

$0.51 MNT 1,816

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MNT 2,082

$0.54 MNT 1,952

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 MNT 22.1K

$6.48 MNT 23.3K

-5.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 MNT 4,021

$1.11 MNT 3,975

0.90%

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

$26.5K MNT 95.2M

$26.4K MNT 95.0M

0.21%

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

$34.5K MNT 123.9M

$35.0K MNT 125.9M

-1.63%

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

$71.4 MNT 256.7K

$70.5 MNT 253.3K

1.33%

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

$7.50 MNT 27.0K

$7.74 MNT 27.8K

-3.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.86 MNT 49.8K

$13.84 MNT 49.7K

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.7 MNT 243.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.02 MNT 64.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 MNT 14.7K

$4.21 MNT 15.1K

-2.85%

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

$827 MNT 3.0M

$829 MNT 3.0M

-0.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,512 MNT 30.6M

$8,501 MNT 30.6M

0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 MNT 291.7K

$81.9 MNT 294.3K

-0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 MNT 161.2K

$44.54 MNT 160.1K

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MNT 371.8K

$105 MNT 376.0K

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 MNT 682.6K

$188 MNT 674.2K

1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 MNT 2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MNT 1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 MNT 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 MNT 3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,959 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$976 MNT 3.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 MNT 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.32

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: September 1, 2026

Last update for Darkhan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Ulaanbaatar vs $32.00 in Darkhan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $236 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 83% 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 $1,793 in Ulaanbaatar and $981 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 $827 in Ulaanbaatar versus $829 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 $32.00 versus $32.00 in Ulaanbaatar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $654 in Darkhan versus $1,195 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 83% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.