Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Mandalgovi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Mandalgovi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,195 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $638 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,905 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,042 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,614 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,446 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

Ulaanbaatar costs about 87% more than Mandalgovi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ulaanbaatar and Mandalgovi are more affordable than the global median – Ulaanbaatar 13% lower, Mandalgovi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.66 MNT 20.4K

$5.71 MNT 20.5K

-0.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.72 MNT 114.0K

$32.01 MNT 115.0K

-0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 MNT 19.5K

$5.64 MNT 20.3K

-3.90%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MNT 8,823

$2.44 MNT 8,752

0.41%

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

$0.84 MNT 3,024

$0.88 MNT 3,173

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MNT 2,207

$0.61 MNT 2,183

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 MNT 8,324

$2.42 MNT 8,712

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MNT 12.2K

$3.36 MNT 12.1K

0.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MNT 5,094

$1.41 MNT 5,056

0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,526

$1.01 MNT 3,638

-2.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MNT 7,444

$2.07 MNT 7,423

Eggs

$2.14 MNT 7,687

$2.12 MNT 7,603

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 MNT 44.0K

$12.19 MNT 43.8K

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MNT 17.1K

$4.92 MNT 17.7K

-3.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 MNT 26.0K

$7.18 MNT 25.8K

0.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 MNT 11.5K

$3.13 MNT 11.2K

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 MNT 8,913

$2.39 MNT 8,584

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 MNT 13.3K

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

$2.99 MNT 10.7K

3.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 MNT 2,538

$0.71 MNT 2,568

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 MNT 3,879

$1.08 MNT 3,869

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MNT 6,012

$1.68 MNT 6,037

-0.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MNT 2,661

$0.74 MNT 2,671

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 MNT 6,346

$1.76 MNT 6,336

0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 MNT 38.0K

$10.53 MNT 37.9K

0.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 MNT 5,218

$1.51 MNT 5,430

-3.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 MNT 6,487

$1.81 MNT 6,493

-0.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 MNT 967

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.92 MNT 60.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 MNT 1,948

$0.54 MNT 1,954

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MNT 2,082

$0.54 MNT 1,946

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 MNT 22.1K

$6.44 MNT 23.1K

-4.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 MNT 4,021

$1.06 MNT 3,816

5.66%

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

$26.5K MNT 95.2M

$27.0K MNT 97.0M

-1.81%

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

$34.5K MNT 123.9M

$35.6K MNT 128.0M

-3.22%

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

$71.4 MNT 256.7K

$72.3 MNT 260.0K

-1.29%

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

$7.50 MNT 27.0K

$7.46 MNT 26.8K

0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.86 MNT 49.8K

$13.89 MNT 49.9K

-0.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.7 MNT 243.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.02 MNT 64.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 MNT 14.7K

$4.15 MNT 14.9K

-1.45%

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

$827 MNT 3.0M

$824 MNT 3.0M

0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,512 MNT 30.6M

$8,676 MNT 31.2M

-1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 MNT 291.7K

$82.7 MNT 297.2K

-1.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 MNT 161.2K

$44.65 MNT 160.5K

0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MNT 371.8K

$102 MNT 366.1K

1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 MNT 682.6K

$189 MNT 679.3K

0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 MNT 2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MNT 1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 MNT 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 MNT 3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,959 MNT 7.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$976 MNT 3.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 MNT 2.1M

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 1, 2026

Last update for Mandalgovi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ulaanbaatar versus $32.00 in Mandalgovi. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Ulaanbaatar vs $235 in Mandalgovi – so Mandalgovi 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 Mandalgovi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,195 in Ulaanbaatar, $638 in Mandalgovi – roughly 87% apart. Ulaanbaatar costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,793 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $956 in Mandalgovi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,195 in Ulaanbaatar and $638 in Mandalgovi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $827 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $824 in Mandalgovi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $638, than in Ulaanbaatar at $1,195. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulaanbaatar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mandalgovi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mandalgovi. 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.