Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Ulaanbaatar is 11.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ulaanbaatar is 4.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70 MNT 20.4K
$11.61 MX$200
-50.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.80 MNT 106.5K
$42.75 MX$738
-30.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 MNT 19.5K
$10.60 MX$183
-48.68%
Cappuccino
$2.60 MNT 9,308
$3.59 MX$62.0
-27.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MNT 2,532
$1.45 MX$25.08
-51.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MNT 1,679
$0.90 MX$15.50
-47.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 MNT 7,511
$3.03 MX$52.4
-30.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 MNT 8,190
$4.56 MX$78.8
-49.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MNT 5,067
$1.45 MX$25.07
-2.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 MNT 3,659
$1.83 MX$31.55
-44.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 MNT 7,292
$1.61 MX$27.77
26.71%
Eggs
$2.10 MNT 7,504
$2.54 MX$43.82
-17.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.69 MNT 56.1K
$8.54 MX$148
83.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.68 MNT 20.3K
$8.47 MX$146
-32.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.40 MNT 22.9K
$10.86 MX$188
-41.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 MNT 11.3K
$2.73 MX$47.13
16.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 MNT 9,173
$1.49 MX$25.77
72.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 MNT 15.8K
$1.94 MX$33.55
127.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 MNT 9,867
$2.16 MX$37.38
27.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MNT 2,716
$1.85 MX$31.88
-58.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MNT 3,678
$2.19 MX$37.80
-52.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 MNT 4,458
$1.07 MX$18.52
16.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MNT 2,464
$1.08 MX$18.71
-36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 MNT 6,310
$4.06 MX$70.1
-56.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 MNT 38.1K
$10.46 MX$181
1.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MNT 4,813
$1.65 MX$28.56
-18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MNT 6,356
$2.55 MX$44.01
-30.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MNT 1,000
$0.56 MX$9.60
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.58 MNT 30.7K
$26.20 MX$453
-67.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MNT 2,175
$3.14 MX$54.2
-80.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 MNT 2,051
$2.37 MX$40.96
-75.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.74 MNT 17.0K
$3.24 MX$56.0
46.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 MNT 3,854
$1.31 MX$22.70
-17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K MNT 107.1M
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K MNT 66.8M
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-21.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MNT 290.9K
$83.1 MX$1,436
-2.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.64 MNT 27.3K
$22.15 MX$383
-65.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.17 MNT 61.4K
$29.37 MX$507
-41.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 MNT 215.0K
$51.2 MX$884
17.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.54 MNT 48.4K
$18.69 MX$323
-27.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.76 MNT 13.5K
$4.89 MX$84.4
-23.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 MNT 619.1K
$199 MX$3,431
-12.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,518 MNT 23.3M
$5,207 MX$89.9K
25.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 MNT 310.0K
$35.93 MX$621
141.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2 MNT 250.8K
$39.39 MX$680
78.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MNT 363.9K
$80.3 MX$1,387
26.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 MNT 575.8K
$87.6 MX$1,512
83.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 MNT 1.9M
$963 MX$16.6K
-46.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$413 MNT 1.5M
$482 MX$8,326
-14.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 MNT 5.2M
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-11.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 MNT 2.7M
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-36.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 MNT 6.8M
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-51.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$958 MNT 3.4M
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-85.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 MNT 2.1M
$726 MX$12.5K
-19.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
11.42
-47.46%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 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

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