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

😐 Solo nomad: Ulaanbaatar is 1.9% more expensive than Erbil without rent, and 9.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ulaanbaatar is 9.2% more expensive than Erbil without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70 MNT 20.4K
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
-27.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.80 MNT 106.5K
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
30.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 MNT 19.5K
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
-36.60%
Cappuccino
$2.60 MNT 9,308
$3.26 IQD 4,266
-20.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MNT 2,532
$0.51 IQD 674
39.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MNT 1,679
$0.20 IQD 262
135.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 MNT 7,511
$1.95 IQD 2,547
7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 MNT 8,190
$2.16 IQD 2,824
6.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MNT 5,067
$1.33 IQD 1,745
6.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 MNT 3,659
$0.80 IQD 1,044
27.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 MNT 7,292
$1.80 IQD 2,359
13.33%
Eggs
$2.10 MNT 7,504
$1.92 IQD 2,508
9.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.69 MNT 56.1K
$7.49 IQD 9,801
109.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.68 MNT 20.3K
$4.85 IQD 6,345
17.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.40 MNT 22.9K
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
-55.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 MNT 11.3K
$1.19 IQD 1,554
166.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 MNT 9,173
$1.19 IQD 1,564
115.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 MNT 15.8K
$1.19 IQD 1,563
271.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 MNT 9,867
$0.81 IQD 1,059
240.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MNT 2,716
$0.67 IQD 880
13.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MNT 3,678
$0.75 IQD 982
37.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 MNT 4,458
$0.74 IQD 968
68.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MNT 2,464
$0.57 IQD 742
21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 MNT 6,310
$2.71 IQD 3,545
-34.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 MNT 38.1K
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
-15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MNT 4,813
$1.45 IQD 1,899
-6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MNT 6,356
$2.03 IQD 2,654
-12.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MNT 1,000
$0.59 IQD 778
-52.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.58 MNT 30.7K
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
-75.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MNT 2,175
$2.36 IQD 3,096
-74.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 MNT 2,051
$2.31 IQD 3,019
-75.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.74 MNT 17.0K
$6.79 IQD 8,893
-30.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 MNT 3,854
$0.65 IQD 845
66.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K MNT 107.1M
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
58.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K MNT 66.8M
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
-8.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MNT 290.9K
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
-17.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.64 MNT 27.3K
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
-56.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.17 MNT 61.4K
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
-43.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 MNT 215.0K
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
-18.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.54 MNT 48.4K
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
15.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.76 MNT 13.5K
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
-66.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 MNT 619.1K
$262 IQD 343.1K
-33.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,518 MNT 23.3M
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
96.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 MNT 310.0K
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
161.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2 MNT 250.8K
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
46.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MNT 363.9K
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
24.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 MNT 575.8K
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
108.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 MNT 1.9M
$430 IQD 562.7K
20.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$413 MNT 1.5M
$276 IQD 361.4K
49.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 MNT 5.2M
$724 IQD 947.4K
101.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 MNT 2.7M
$496 IQD 649.5K
53.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 MNT 6.8M
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
72.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$958 MNT 3.4M
$653 IQD 854.3K
46.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 MNT 2.1M
$566 IQD 741.0K
3.10%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

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

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