Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,160 in Ulaanbaatar versus $368 in Erdenet.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,925 in Ulaanbaatar versus $622 in Erdenet.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,691 in Ulaanbaatar versus $876 in Erdenet.

Living in Ulaanbaatar is roughly 215% more expensive than in Erdenet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulaanbaatar 16% lower, Erdenet 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 MNT 19.9K

$4.25 MNT 15.3K

30.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 MNT 117.1K

$28.30 MNT 101.7K

15.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 MNT 19.4K

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

26.17%

Cappuccino

$2.38 MNT 8,567

$2.23 MNT 8,032

6.73%

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

$0.83 MNT 2,974

$0.66 MNT 2,359

25.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MNT 2,032

$0.40 MNT 1,445

42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MNT 8,312

$1.69 MNT 6,077

36.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 MNT 11.7K

$1.70 MNT 6,096

91.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MNT 5,219

$1.03 MNT 3,699

40.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MNT 3,502

$0.89 MNT 3,212

8.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MNT 7,402

$2.85 MNT 10.2K

-27.72%

Eggs

$2.15 MNT 7,747

$1.98 MNT 7,115

8.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.41 MNT 44.6K

$7.08 MNT 25.5K

75.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 MNT 17.4K

$6.76 MNT 24.3K

-28.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MNT 25.7K

$4.37 MNT 15.7K

63.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 MNT 11.5K

$2.18 MNT 7,828

46.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 MNT 8,547

$1.72 MNT 6,174

38.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 MNT 13.1K

$1.71 MNT 6,135

112.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 MNT 11.2K

$1.35 MNT 4,864

131.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MNT 2,499

$1.41 MNT 5,065

-50.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 MNT 3,756

$0.86 MNT 3,094

20.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 MNT 6,280

$1.36 MNT 4,891

28.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MNT 2,847

$1.00 MNT 3,607

-21.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,353

$2.71 MNT 9,749

-34.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.61 MNT 38.1K

$5.67 MNT 20.4K

87.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 MNT 5,388

$1.70 MNT 6,099

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 MNT 6,200

$1.69 MNT 6,086

1.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 MNT 1,045

$0.15 MNT 550

93.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.54 MNT 59.5K

$19.27 MNT 69.3K

-14.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 MNT 1,846

$0.60 MNT 2,153

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MNT 1,929

$0.40 MNT 1,456

35.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 MNT 22.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 MNT 3,803

$0.70 MNT 2,503

51.43%

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

$27.3K MNT 98.3M

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

$34.5K MNT 124.0M

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

$69.8 MNT 250.8K

$57.5 MNT 206.7K

21.35%

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

$7.47 MNT 26.8K

$2.72 MNT 9,776

174.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 MNT 50.0K

$13.81 MNT 49.7K

0.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.1 MNT 241.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 MNT 65.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

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

$813 MNT 2.9M

$274 MNT 983.5K

197.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,436 MNT 30.3M

$2,474 MNT 8.9M

240.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 MNT 300.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.65 MNT 160.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 377.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 MNT 683.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MNT 2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MNT 1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,695 MNT 6.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 MNT 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,928 MNT 6.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$955 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 MNT 2.1M

$221 MNT 792.9K

168.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.32

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erdenet: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ulaanbaatar pays 168% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ulaanbaatar vs $28.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $188 per month, with Erdenet 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 Erdenet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet differ by about 215% in total monthly costs ($1,160 vs $368 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 168% higher in Ulaanbaatar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $813 in Ulaanbaatar versus $274 in Erdenet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Ulaanbaatar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $368 in Erdenet versus $1,160 in Ulaanbaatar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Ulaanbaatar. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet 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 Erdenet 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 Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.