Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,161 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,804 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,446 per month in Ulaanbaatar vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Ulaanbaatar is about 4% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ulaanbaatar and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Ulaanbaatar 13% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.62 MNT 20.1K

$10.80 ₾28.71

-47.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 MNT 107.2K

$43.18 ₾115

-30.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$8.29 ₾22.04

-32.93%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MNT 9,447

$3.00 ₾7.97

-12.00%

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

$0.75 MNT 2,693

$0.82 ₾2.17

-8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MNT 1,705

$0.46 ₾1.21

4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 MNT 7,547

$2.23 ₾5.93

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 MNT 8,244

$2.92 ₾7.75

-20.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MNT 5,317

$1.93 ₾5.12

-22.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MNT 3,489

$0.68 ₾1.81

44.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 MNT 7,648

$1.88 ₾5.00

13.83%

Eggs

$2.17 MNT 7,771

$2.54 ₾6.74

-14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.06 MNT 57.4K

$7.42 ₾19.70

116.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 MNT 19.9K

$6.19 ₾16.44

-10.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 MNT 22.4K

$9.36 ₾24.87

-33.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MNT 11.1K

$1.22 ₾3.25

154.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 MNT 9,461

$1.66 ₾4.40

59.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 MNT 15.9K

$1.80 ₾4.78

146.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 MNT 9,566

$2.24 ₾5.96

19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MNT 2,698

$0.71 ₾1.89

5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MNT 3,662

$0.67 ₾1.79

52.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,534

$1.18 ₾3.13

7.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MNT 2,624

$0.66 ₾1.76

10.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MNT 6,384

$2.98 ₾7.91

-39.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.67 MNT 34.6K

$7.61 ₾20.22

27.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MNT 4,970

$1.54 ₾4.08

-9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MNT 6,132

$2.25 ₾5.99

-24.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 MNT 987

$0.36 ₾0.95

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.61 MNT 30.8K

$14.44 ₾38.38

-40.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 MNT 2,210

$1.49 ₾3.97

-58.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MNT 2,189

$0.68 ₾1.82

-10.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MNT 17.0K

$7.23 ₾19.20

-34.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 MNT 3,694

$1.14 ₾3.04

-9.65%

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

$30.2K MNT 108.0M

$18.5K ₾49.1K

63.68%

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

$18.6K MNT 66.4M

$20.0K ₾53.1K

-7.04%

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

$81.4 MNT 291.0K

$73.7 ₾196

10.45%

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

$7.77 MNT 27.8K

$11.64 ₾30.92

-33.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.99 MNT 60.7K

$17.84 ₾47.41

-4.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 MNT 216.1K

$60.1 ₾160

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.47 MNT 48.2K

$16.80 ₾44.65

-19.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 MNT 13.5K

$6.60 ₾17.55

-43.03%

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

$177 MNT 632.8K

$266 ₾708

-33.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,504 MNT 23.3M

$5,191 ₾13.8K

25.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.3 MNT 301.5K

$77.7 ₾206

8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 MNT 248.6K

$44.75 ₾119

55.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MNT 375.2K

$117 ₾310

-10.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 MNT 577.2K

$113 ₾300

42.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 MNT 1.8M

$693 ₾1,840

-26.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MNT 1.4M

$462 ₾1,227

-12.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MNT 5.3M

$1,320 ₾3,507

11.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 MNT 2.6M

$774 ₾2,057

-4.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 MNT 7.0M

$2,430 ₾6,458

-19.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 MNT 3.4M

$1,446 ₾3,842

-34.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MNT 2.1M

$673 ₾1,788

-10.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-49.54%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $512 in Ulaanbaatar versus $693 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Ulaanbaatar vs $203 in Tbilisi – so Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 4% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,742 per month in Ulaanbaatar and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulaanbaatar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Ulaanbaatar and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,209 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulaanbaatar, where all-in costs run around $1,161, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Ulaanbaatar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,161 in Ulaanbaatar to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ulaanbaatar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.