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Hanoi vs Ulaanbaatar cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🇲🇳 UlaanbaatarHanoi is 39% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar
Living on $1,422 a month in Hanoi feels like about $1,603 in Ulaanbaatar — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$57.8 vs $95
Per month
$1,422 vs $1,603
Local meal
â‚« 50,000 vs â‚® 15,000
$1.9 vs $4.23
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 85,000 vs â‚® 12,000
$3.23 vs $3.38
At a glance
FoodHanoi 47% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHanoi 39% cheaper
TransportUlaanbaatar 16% cheaper
StayHanoi 30% cheaper
FunHanoi 29% cheaper
- Where Ulaanbaatar is clearly cheaper: Transit (47%↓), SIM card (31%↓)
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (57%↓), Local meal (55%↓), Street food (54%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Ulaanbaatar | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Hanoi −55% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 23,000$0.87 | ₮ 6,800$1.92 | Hanoi −54% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 230,000$8.75 | ₮ 40,000$11.3 | Hanoi −22% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₮ 8,000$2.25 | Hanoi −33% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | ₮ 7,000$1.97 | Hanoi −42% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 78,000$2.97 | ₮ 18,000$5.07 | Hanoi −42% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | ₮ 1,500$0.42 | Hanoi −28% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | ₮ 3,800$1.07 | Hanoi −29% |
| Taxi5 km in town | â‚« 85,000$3.23 | â‚® 12,000$3.38 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 39,000$1.48 | ₮ 5,000$1.41 | Ulaanbaatar −5% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ₮ 500$0.14 | Ulaanbaatar −47% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₮ 50,000$14.1 | Hanoi −57% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | ₮ 200,000$56.3 | Hanoi −46% |
| Studio rent (month) | â‚« 12,000,000$456 | â‚® 1,600,000$451 | similar |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ₮ 6,000$1.69 | Hanoi −28% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Ulaanbaatar −31% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ₮ 21,000$5.92 | Hanoi −42% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | ₮ 60,000$16.9 | Hanoi −42% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 660,000$25.1 | ₮ 150,000$42.3 | Hanoi −41% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Ulaanbaatar −15% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Hanoi or Ulaanbaatar?
Hanoi is 39% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar. Daily budget $57.8 vs $95; a month $1,422 vs $1,603.
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,422 and Ulaanbaatar about $1,603 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.