Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulaanbaatar and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ulaanbaatar: $1,192 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ulaanbaatar
🇲🇳 Mongolia
$1,192
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ulaanbaatar and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ulaanbaatar and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,192 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ulaanbaatar $1,192
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,911 in Ulaanbaatar versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ulaanbaatar $1,911
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,630 in Ulaanbaatar versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Ulaanbaatar $2,630
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Ulaanbaatar costs roughly 12% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.41 MNT 19.5K
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
62.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.92 MNT 114.7K
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
-10.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 MNT 20.2K
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
1.45%
Cappuccino
$2.36 MNT 8,485
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MNT 3,143
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-48.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MNT 2,073
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-23.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 MNT 8,321
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-12.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MNT 12.2K
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
-22.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MNT 5,110
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
-4.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 MNT 3,541
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
-56.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MNT 7,760
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
81.51%
Eggs
$2.07 MNT 7,441
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
1.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.26 MNT 44.1K
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
-30.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 MNT 17.1K
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
19.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.62 MNT 23.8K
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
-45.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 MNT 10.9K
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
-17.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 MNT 8,428
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
54.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 MNT 13.3K
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
65.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 MNT 10.8K
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
52.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 MNT 2,525
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-62.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 MNT 3,723
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
-57.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 MNT 6,182
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
73.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 MNT 2,836
$0.51 Rp 9,332
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.63 MNT 5,867
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
-26.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.41 MNT 37.4K
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
-53.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 MNT 5,200
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
-35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 MNT 6,307
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
-41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 MNT 958
$0.25 Rp 4,562
8.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.65 MNT 59.8K
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
112.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 MNT 1,844
$0.44 Rp 7,989
15.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 MNT 1,986
$0.43 Rp 7,817
27.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.48 MNT 23.3K
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
19.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 MNT 4,182
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
41.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K MNT 97.1M
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
13.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K MNT 125.7M
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
10.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.8 MNT 254.5K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-10.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.62 MNT 27.4K
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
18.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.84 MNT 49.7K
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
-25.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 MNT 246.9K
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
38.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 MNT 65.4K
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
3.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 MNT 15.2K
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
-0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$798 MNT 2.9M
$491 Rp 8.9M
62.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,425 MNT 30.3M
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
48.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.1 MNT 298.6K
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
86.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.52 MNT 160.0K
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
27.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MNT 366.6K
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
27.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186 MNT 668.4K
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
134.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$636 MNT 2.3M
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-43.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 MNT 1.7M
$671 Rp 12.2M
-30.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 MNT 5.9M
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-54.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$985 MNT 3.5M
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-42.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,751 MNT 6.3M
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-35.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,016 MNT 3.7M
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-55.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulaanbaatar
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$589 MNT 2.1M
$164 Rp 3.0M
259.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.32
13.78
-25.11%

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

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ulaanbaatar
$469
Ubud, Bali
$672 43.2% $202
Groceries & Markets
Ulaanbaatar
$233
Ubud, Bali
$288 24% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Ulaanbaatar
$187
Ubud, Bali
$108 42.5% $80
Eating Out
Ulaanbaatar
$113
Ubud, Bali
$108 4.4% $5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulaanbaatar
$92
Ubud, Bali
$104 12.8% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Ulaanbaatar
$77
Ubud, Bali
$58 24.8% $19
Getting Around
Ulaanbaatar
$21
Ubud, Bali
$11 45.6% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $636 in Ulaanbaatar and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulaanbaatar pays about 3.6 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Ulaanbaatar vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $288 per month, with Ulaanbaatar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇳 Ulaanbaatar
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
05:17 5:17 AM
05:17 5:17 AM
Same time as Ulaanbaatar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,401,200 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MNT – Mongolian Tögrög Converter

Mongolian Tögrög exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,594 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 4,001 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.5 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ulaanbaatar Ubud, Bali 6,330 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ulaanbaatar
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ulaanbaatar or Ubud, Bali?
Ulaanbaatar wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ulaanbaatar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ulaanbaatar or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay in Ulaanbaatar is about 3.6 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ulaanbaatar compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $636 in Ulaanbaatar versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ulaanbaatar and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $798 in Ulaanbaatar versus $491 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ulaanbaatar or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ulaanbaatar or in Ubud, Bali?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ulaanbaatar is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ulaanbaatar or Ubud, Bali?
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.

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