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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 MNT 19.3K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.93 MNT 103.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

Cappuccino

$2.55 MNT 9,154

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

$0.76 MNT 2,714

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MNT 1,830

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 MNT 7,526

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 MNT 8,379

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MNT 5,132

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,522

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MNT 7,567

Eggs

$2.09 MNT 7,499

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 MNT 56.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 MNT 20.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.48 MNT 23.2K

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 MNT 11.4K

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,554

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 MNT 15.4K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 MNT 9,581

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MNT 2,589

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MNT 3,625

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 MNT 4,638

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MNT 2,534

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,342

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 MNT 37.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,795

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 MNT 6,092

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 991

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.81 MNT 31.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 MNT 2,011

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MNT 2,024

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MNT 16.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 MNT 3,860

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

$30.5K MNT 109.2M

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

$18.4K MNT 65.9M

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

$82.7 MNT 296.4K

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

$7.41 MNT 26.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.71 MNT 59.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 MNT 223.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 MNT 49.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

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

$175 MNT 628.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 MNT 23.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 MNT 307.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 MNT 250.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 MNT 573.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 MNT 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 MNT 5.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 MNT 2.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 MNT 6.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MNT 3.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$596 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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hovd: July 12, 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.