Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Olsztyn Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Olsztyn

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,464 in Olsztyn.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,804 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,997 in Olsztyn.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,446 in Ulaanbaatar versus $2,531 in Olsztyn.

Living in Ulaanbaatar costs roughly 21% less than in Olsztyn, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ulaanbaatar is 13% below, Olsztyn is 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

$10.65 zł 38.92

-47.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

$46.46 zł 170

-35.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$7.51 zł 27.43

-25.97%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MNT 9,447

$2.96 zł 10.82

-10.81%

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

$0.75 MNT 2,693

$1.69 zł 6.17

-55.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MNT 1,705

$1.84 zł 6.71

-73.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 MNT 7,547

$3.27 zł 11.96

-35.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MNT 8,244

$3.82 zł 13.96

-39.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MNT 5,318

$1.10 zł 4.04

35.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,489

$1.32 zł 4.83

-25.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 MNT 7,648

$1.50 zł 5.47

42.67%

Eggs

$2.17 MNT 7,771

$3.45 zł 12.61

-37.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

$8.89 zł 32.47

80.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$6.01 zł 21.97

-7.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

$10.06 zł 36.77

-37.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

$1.10 zł 4.01

181.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 MNT 9,462

$1.58 zł 5.76

67.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

$2.04 zł 7.45

117.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 MNT 9,567

$2.78 zł 10.16

-3.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MNT 2,698

$0.79 zł 2.89

-5.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,662

$1.24 zł 4.51

-17.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,534

$1.15 zł 4.20

10.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MNT 2,624

$0.68 zł 2.47

7.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MNT 6,384

$5.57 zł 20.35

-67.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

$8.14 zł 29.74

18.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MNT 4,970

$1.02 zł 3.71

36.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MNT 6,132

$1.71 zł 6.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 987

$1.12 zł 4.09

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

$27.10 zł 99.0

-68.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 MNT 2,210

$1.98 zł 7.23

-68.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MNT 2,189

$0.74 zł 2.70

-17.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

$13.79 zł 50.4

-65.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 MNT 3,694

$1.78 zł 6.50

-42.13%

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

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

$32.8K zł 119.7K

-7.75%

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

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

$30.8K zł 112.5K

-39.74%

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

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

$271 zł 991

-70.00%

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

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

$9.10 zł 33.25

-14.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

$17.49 zł 63.9

-2.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 MNT 216.2K

$32.68 zł 119

84.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

$16.36 zł 59.8

-17.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$8.01 zł 29.25

-53.06%

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

$177 MNT 632.8K

$133 zł 487

32.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

$15.6K zł 56.9K

-58.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

$96.0 zł 351

-12.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

$46.72 zł 171

48.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.3K

$82.9 zł 303

26.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 MNT 577.2K

$108 zł 394

49.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 MNT 1.8M

$640 zł 2,337

-19.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.4M

$551 zł 2,011

-26.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

$979 zł 3,576

50.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

$608 zł 2,223

21.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

$3,992 zł 14.6K

-50.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

$2,823 zł 10.3K

-66.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MNT 2.1M

$1,472 zł 5,376

-59.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.81

3.27%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Last update for Olsztyn: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Ulaanbaatar and $640 in Olsztyn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Olsztyn pays 145% 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: $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar vs $46.00 in Olsztyn. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $210, with Olsztyn cheaper for home cooking.

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 Olsztyn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulaanbaatar is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Olsztyn earns 145% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Ulaanbaatar versus $640 in Olsztyn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Olsztyn pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Ulaanbaatar – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $46.00 in Olsztyn. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,464 in Olsztyn, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulaanbaatar but tight or insufficient in Olsztyn. The gap between the two cities makes Ulaanbaatar 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 Olsztyn 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 Ulaanbaatar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Olsztyn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.