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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,160 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,074 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,925 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,624 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,691 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $2,173 in Erbil, rent included.

Ulaanbaatar costs about 8% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ulaanbaatar and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Ulaanbaatar 16% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 MNT 19.9K

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-28.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 MNT 117.1K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

-25.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 MNT 19.4K

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

-34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.38 MNT 8,567

$3.65 IQD 4,784

-34.79%

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

$0.83 MNT 2,974

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-20.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MNT 2,032

$0.45 IQD 585

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MNT 8,312

$5.96 IQD 7,810

-61.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 MNT 11.7K

$4.46 IQD 5,839

-27.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MNT 5,219

$1.27 IQD 1,665

14.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MNT 3,502

$0.82 IQD 1,073

18.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MNT 7,402

$1.67 IQD 2,187

23.35%

Eggs

$2.15 MNT 7,747

$1.85 IQD 2,418

16.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.41 MNT 44.6K

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

48.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 MNT 17.4K

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-15.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MNT 25.7K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-51.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 MNT 11.5K

$1.15 IQD 1,502

177.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 MNT 8,547

$1.16 IQD 1,521

105.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 MNT 13.1K

$1.18 IQD 1,544

208.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 MNT 11.2K

$0.75 IQD 979

316.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MNT 2,499

$0.76 IQD 997

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 MNT 3,756

$0.68 IQD 892

52.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 MNT 6,280

$0.73 IQD 961

139.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MNT 2,847

$0.58 IQD 764

36.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,353

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-29.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.61 MNT 38.1K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

-13.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 MNT 5,388

$1.65 IQD 2,160

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 MNT 6,200

$2.13 IQD 2,783

-19.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 MNT 1,045

$0.55 IQD 719

-47.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.54 MNT 59.5K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-62.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 MNT 1,846

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-73.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MNT 1,929

$1.82 IQD 2,379

-70.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 MNT 22.4K

$6.52 IQD 8,533

-4.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 MNT 3,803

$0.66 IQD 866

60.61%

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

$27.3K MNT 98.3M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

53.36%

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

$34.5K MNT 124.0M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

73.62%

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

$69.8 MNT 250.8K

$128 IQD 167.5K

-45.47%

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

$7.47 MNT 26.8K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

-46.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 MNT 50.0K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

-50.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.1 MNT 241.1K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

3.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MNT 65.5K

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

24.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-64.77%

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

$813 MNT 2.9M

$314 IQD 411.2K

158.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,436 MNT 30.3M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

173.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 MNT 300.7K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

172.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.65 MNT 160.5K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 377.1K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

54.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 MNT 683.9K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

176.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MNT 2.1M

$470 IQD 616.0K

24.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MNT 1.6M

$294 IQD 385.1K

53.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,695 MNT 6.1M

$728 IQD 953.1K

132.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 MNT 3.7M

$434 IQD 568.3K

135.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,928 MNT 6.9M

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

76.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$955 MNT 3.4M

$646 IQD 846.5K

47.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 MNT 2.1M

$608 IQD 796.3K

-2.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.32

2.53

307.91%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $586 in Ulaanbaatar versus $470 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 Erbil, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ulaanbaatar versus $43.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Ulaanbaatar vs $205 in Erbil – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 8%, 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 $1,739 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $1,612 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 16% 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 $33.00 in Ulaanbaatar and $43.00 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 $1,074, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,160. 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.