Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Hovd Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Hovd

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

Cappuccino

$2.64 MNT 9,447

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

$0.75 MNT 2,693

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MNT 1,705

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 MNT 7,547

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MNT 8,244

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MNT 5,317

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,489

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 MNT 7,648

Eggs

$2.17 MNT 7,771

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 MNT 9,461

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 MNT 9,566

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MNT 2,698

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,662

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,534

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MNT 2,624

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MNT 6,384

Wine (Bottle)

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MNT 4,970

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MNT 6,132

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 987

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 MNT 2,210

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MNT 2,189

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 MNT 3,694

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

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

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

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

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

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

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

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

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

$177 MNT 632.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 MNT 577.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MNT 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hovd: June 2, 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

Ulaanbaatar vs Hovd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Hovd is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ulaanbaatar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ulaanbaatar and Hovd are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Hovd wins on affordability, Ulaanbaatar on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.