Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Erbil

😐 Solo nomad: Ulaanbaatar is 0.2% more expensive than Erbil without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ulaanbaatar is 9.4% more expensive than Erbil without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45 MNT 19.6K
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
-29.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.36 MNT 105.6K
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
27.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 MNT 19.4K
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
-38.57%
Cappuccino
$2.63 MNT 9,464
$3.13 IQD 4,091
-15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MNT 2,539
$0.52 IQD 675
36.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 MNT 1,816
$0.22 IQD 288
127.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 MNT 7,332
$1.95 IQD 2,547
4.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 MNT 8,503
$2.06 IQD 2,695
14.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 MNT 5,337
$1.33 IQD 1,745
11.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MNT 3,688
$0.84 IQD 1,100
22.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 MNT 7,705
$1.80 IQD 2,348
18.89%
Eggs
$2.15 MNT 7,749
$1.97 IQD 2,580
9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.69 MNT 56.4K
$7.54 IQD 9,856
108.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 MNT 20.2K
$4.75 IQD 6,212
18.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.30 MNT 22.7K
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
-55.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 MNT 10.9K
$1.14 IQD 1,488
166.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 MNT 9,328
$1.16 IQD 1,517
123.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 MNT 15.9K
$1.13 IQD 1,477
291.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 MNT 10.0K
$0.74 IQD 972
275.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MNT 2,554
$0.72 IQD 946
-1.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 MNT 3,852
$0.70 IQD 921
52.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 MNT 4,562
$0.74 IQD 963
71.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MNT 2,521
$0.56 IQD 730
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 MNT 6,385
$2.64 IQD 3,455
-32.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.99 MNT 35.9K
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
-19.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 MNT 4,991
$1.38 IQD 1,802
0.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MNT 6,114
$2.00 IQD 2,615
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MNT 1,006
$0.59 IQD 777
-52.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.71 MNT 31.3K
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
-74.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 MNT 2,224
$2.28 IQD 2,981
-72.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 MNT 2,183
$2.29 IQD 3,000
-73.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 MNT 16.6K
$7.08 IQD 9,255
-34.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 MNT 3,767
$0.70 IQD 912
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K MNT 110.0M
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
56.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5K MNT 66.5M
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
-10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.2 MNT 299.4K
$101 IQD 132.1K
-17.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.47 MNT 26.9K
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
-57.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.15 MNT 61.7K
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
-41.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 MNT 220.2K
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
-16.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.91 MNT 50.0K
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
18.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.85 MNT 13.8K
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
-67.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 MNT 625.4K
$266 IQD 347.3K
-34.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,558 MNT 23.6M
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
98.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 MNT 304.2K
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
155.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2 MNT 252.5K
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
41.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MNT 377.2K
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
26.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 MNT 569.6K
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
106.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 MNT 1.8M
$439 IQD 574.4K
16.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$411 MNT 1.5M
$276 IQD 360.6K
49.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,477 MNT 5.3M
$738 IQD 965.7K
100.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$752 MNT 2.7M
$483 IQD 631.7K
55.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 MNT 7.0M
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
74.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$951 MNT 3.4M
$664 IQD 867.9K
43.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 MNT 2.2M
$555 IQD 725.3K
9.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
14.33
-58.13%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: March 2, 2026

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 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

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