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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,127 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,770 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,413 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

Ulaanbaatar costs about 9% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ulaanbaatar and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Ulaanbaatar 16% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-30.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

27.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-40.54%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MNT 9,154

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-20.31%

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

$0.76 MNT 2,714

$0.48 IQD 630

58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,830

$0.20 IQD 262

155.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 MNT 7,526

$1.93 IQD 2,523

8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 MNT 8,379

$2.14 IQD 2,803

9.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MNT 5,132

$1.31 IQD 1,719

9.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,522

$0.85 IQD 1,108

15.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MNT 7,567

$1.86 IQD 2,439

13.44%

Eggs

$2.09 MNT 7,499

$1.98 IQD 2,590

5.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

$7.23 IQD 9,474

116.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

$4.72 IQD 6,184

22.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-54.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

$1.19 IQD 1,563

166.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,554

$1.15 IQD 1,505

132.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

$1.15 IQD 1,502

272.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,581

$0.81 IQD 1,057

229.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MNT 2,589

$0.68 IQD 888

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MNT 3,625

$0.75 IQD 980

34.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 MNT 4,638

$0.73 IQD 952

76.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MNT 2,534

$0.57 IQD 742

24.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,342

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-32.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-14.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,795

$1.39 IQD 1,824

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,092

$1.97 IQD 2,579

-13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 991

$0.59 IQD 776

-52.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-74.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 MNT 2,011

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-75.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MNT 2,024

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-75.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

$6.75 IQD 8,845

-31.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,860

$0.65 IQD 849

66.15%

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

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

57.04%

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

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-11.76%

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

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-18.66%

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

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

-57.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

-43.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-15.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

18.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-67.05%

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

$175 MNT 628.2K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-33.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

99.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

156.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

40.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.0K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

29.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 MNT 573.3K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

109.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MNT 1.8M

$429 IQD 562.2K

19.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.5M

$275 IQD 360.3K

47.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

$732 IQD 958.5K

105.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 MNT 2.7M

$495 IQD 647.8K

52.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

71.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MNT 3.4M

$660 IQD 864.4K

44.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 MNT 2.1M

$581 IQD 760.9K

2.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

-58.13%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $511 in Ulaanbaatar versus $429 in Erbil. 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 $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $195 – making Erbil 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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ulaanbaatar is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,690 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $1,551 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 27% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Ulaanbaatar and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,127. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Erbil. 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.