Mongolia vs. China Cost of Living Summary

Mongolia is 38.6% more expensive than China overall.

Restaurants
pay 52.6% more in Mongolia
Groceries
pay 31.5% more in Mongolia
Transportation
pay 3.1% more in Mongolia
Housing
pay 73.5% more in Mongolia
Childcare
pay 15.5% less in Mongolia
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.7% more in Mongolia
Clothing
pay 67.1% more in Mongolia

The cost of housing, clothing, restaurants, groceries, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Mongolia are more expensive than in China.

Mongolia vs. China Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Mongolia instead of China, you would:

pay 52.6% more for restaurants

 
China
Mongolia
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.02
CN¥20.13
$5.56
MNT20,000.00
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.16
CN¥34.44
$5.56
MNT20,000.00
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.51
CN¥3.38
$0.86
MNT3,083.33

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pay 31.5% more for groceries

 
China
Mongolia
Bread
1 loaf
$1.66
CN¥11.07
$1.00
MNT3,588.33
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.71
CN¥44.78
$6.18
MNT22,248.75
Milk (1 gallon) $6.65
CN¥44.42
$5.49
MNT19,758.34

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pay 3.1% more for transportation

 
China
Mongolia
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.77
CN¥31.85
$4.32
MNT15,549.41
Monthly public transit pass $20.77
CN¥138.66
$16.67
MNT60,000.00
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $18,838.53
CN¥126K
$26,896.36
MNT97M

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pay 73.5% more for housing

 
China
Mongolia
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$11.27
CN¥75.24
$13.63
MNT49,062.50
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $336.09
CN¥2,243.47
$569.30
MNT2M
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $212.64
CN¥1,419.40
$444.50
MNT2M

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pay 15.5% less for childcare

 
China
Mongolia
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $500.54
CN¥3,341.13
$817.79
MNT3M
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $18,908.16
CN¥126K
$8,262.71
MNT30M

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pay 5.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
China
Mongolia
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.12
CN¥7.50
$2.36
MNT8,500.00
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.84
CN¥18.96
$2.42
MNT8,692.31
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.71
CN¥24.73
$1.68
MNT6,044.89

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pay 67.1% more for clothing

 
China
Mongolia
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$46.40
CN¥309.70
$81.73
MNT294K
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$33.97
CN¥226.76
$45.38
MNT163K
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$73.79
CN¥492.56
$102.93
MNT370K

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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