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: $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar versus $657 in Darkhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,083 in Darkhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,508 in Darkhan.

Living in Ulaanbaatar is roughly 77% more expensive than Darkhan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulaanbaatar 13% lower, Darkhan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

$5.70 MNT 20.4K

-1.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

$29.36 MNT 105.0K

2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$5.27 MNT 18.9K

5.50%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MNT 9,447

$2.63 MNT 9,397

0.38%

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

$0.75 MNT 2,693

$0.78 MNT 2,775

-3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MNT 1,705

$0.51 MNT 1,831

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 MNT 7,547

$2.07 MNT 7,416

1.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MNT 8,244

$2.29 MNT 8,176

0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MNT 5,317

$1.42 MNT 5,093

4.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,489

$0.97 MNT 3,470

1.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 MNT 7,648

$2.11 MNT 7,542

1.42%

Eggs

$2.17 MNT 7,771

$2.15 MNT 7,680

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

$15.95 MNT 57.0K

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$5.67 MNT 20.3K

-1.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

$6.44 MNT 23.0K

-2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

$3.11 MNT 11.1K

-0.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 MNT 9,461

$2.59 MNT 9,266

2.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

$4.46 MNT 16.0K

-0.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 MNT 9,566

$2.66 MNT 9,504

0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MNT 2,698

$0.75 MNT 2,695

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,662

$1.02 MNT 3,645

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,534

$1.25 MNT 4,478

1.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MNT 2,624

$0.74 MNT 2,637

-1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MNT 6,384

$1.78 MNT 6,372

0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

$9.55 MNT 34.1K

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MNT 4,970

$1.38 MNT 4,919

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MNT 6,132

$1.79 MNT 6,412

-4.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 987

$0.17 MNT 603

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 MNT 2,210

$0.30 MNT 1,079

106.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MNT 2,189

$0.61 MNT 2,190

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

$4.81 MNT 17.2K

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 MNT 3,694

$1.08 MNT 3,879

-4.63%

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

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

-1.09%

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

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

$19.0K MNT 68.0M

-2.35%

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

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

$82.1 MNT 293.6K

-0.90%

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

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

$7.71 MNT 27.6K

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

$16.71 MNT 59.8K

1.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$3.91 MNT 14.0K

-3.84%

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

$177 MNT 632.8K

$176 MNT 630.1K

0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

$6,477 MNT 23.2M

0.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

$86.4 MNT 309.1K

-2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

$68.6 MNT 245.4K

1.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.2K

$104 MNT 370.2K

1.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 MNT 577.2K

$158 MNT 564.3K

2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Darkhan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar vs $29.00 in Darkhan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $246 per month, with Darkhan 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 77% 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 $1,742 in Ulaanbaatar and $985 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 $177 in Ulaanbaatar versus $176 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 $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $657 in Darkhan versus $1,161 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 77% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.