Essentials
- City
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Population
- 1,600,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber optic widely available; Average 60-100 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Mongolian Tögrög (MNT); 1 USD ≈ 3,450 MNT
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; purification or bottled water required (approx. 1,500 MNT/1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E/F sockets (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Mobicom or Unitel; ~25,000 MNT for 30GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Khan Bank and Golomt Bank; multi-currency accounts available
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Unubold Apartments, or long-term rentals via Facebook groups
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, card and QR (SocialPay/QPay) used everywhere even in small kiosks
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (average $40-$70/night), Lotus Guesthouse
- Budget Accommodation
- Zaya Guest House ($25/night), Sunpath Mongolia Hostel ($15/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sukhbaatar Square / City Center (near Blue Sky Hotel)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Zaisan District (quieter, better air quality) or Shangri-La area
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Hub Innovation Center (20,000 MNT/day), M-Office (Sukhbaatar District)
- Best Cafe for Work
- UBean Coffee Roasters (Peace Avenue), ROC Caffeine Bar (Zaisan)
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce events
- Social Events for Expats
- UB Expats Facebook Group, weekly meetups at Fat Cat Jazz Club
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- UBCab (most reliable), or flagging down 'street taxis'
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Jet Sharing (scooter app active in summer), UB Cycling
- Best Beach Nearby
- N/A (Landlocked); closest water is Terelj National Park riverbanks
- Top Regional Airline
- Hunnu Air, Aero Mongolia
- Top International Airline
- MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Turkish Airlines
- Highway Access
- AH3 (Asian Highway 3) connecting Russia to China via UB
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ulaanbaatar Railway Station (Trans-Mongolian terminal)
- Public Transport Passes
- Umoney card (500 MNT per bus ride)
- Regional Travel
- Inter-city bus from Dragon Center (West) or Bayanzurkh Center (East)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Intermed Hospital (International standard), SOS Medica
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lotus Yoga Center (Zaisan), Yoga Center UB
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- California Fitness, Gold's Gym (Shangri-La Mall)
- Laundry Services
- Clean Up Laundry, Tsever (Pickup/delivery via app)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Toki, Songo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Khuushuur (fried meat pastry), Buuz (steamed dumplings)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Loving Hut (multiple locations), Luna Blanca
- Best Dessert Spots
- Tous Les Jours, Little Heaven in UB
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Narantuul Market (The Black Market), Mercury Market (food)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shoppy.mn, Banana Mall
- Grocery Delivery
- Emart app, Saruul Market
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Seoul Street (Nightlight street)
- Local Brewery
- Gem Draft, Niislel Brewery
- Wine Bars
- Cuvée Wine Bar, World Wine
- Street Food Stalls
- Beaver's Khuushuur, various 'Guanz' (canteens)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Hazara (North Indian), Sakura (Japanese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sukhbaatar Square, Gandantegchinlen Monastery
- Museums & Art Venues
- Chinggis Khaan National Museum, Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts
- Historical Sites
- Choijin Lama Temple Museum, Bogd Khaan Winter Palace
- Religious Sites
- Gandan Monastery, Dashchoilin Monastery
- Annual Events
- Naadam Festival (July), Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year)
- Cultural Districts
- Ger Districts (cultural tours), Seoul Street
- Theater Venues
- State Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Local Markets
- Narantuul, Mercury Food Market
- Music Scene
- Fat Cat Jazz Club, Playtime Festival (Summer)
- Street Art
- Murals around help of 'Nomadic Vinyl' and local graffiti artists
- Cooking Classes
- Mongolian Secret History workshops
- Art Galleries
- MN Urban Modern Art Gallery, 976 Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Government House, Central Post Office
- Local Heritage
- Soyombo symbol (National emblem found everywhere)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (1.5 hours away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Bogd Khan Uul Strictly Protected Area (southern edge of city)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tuul River bike path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Zaisan Memorial (panoramic city view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tuul River valley
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated camping sites in Terelj
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Mongol Post, DHL Mongolia
- Tech Repair Services
- Tedon Service Center (Computer Repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Och Club
- Language Classes
- Bridge Language Center (Mongolian for expats)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Mongolia, American Corner UB
- Community Centers
- The Children's Palace, various District Cultural Centers
- Gaming Lounges
- GG Hub, Zeuz
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly regulated/Illegal (limited to VIP clubs)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $56,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $900 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $36,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $78,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $850 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $51,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,250 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $100,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $64,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% for income up to 6 billion MNT
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Residency-based; 183 days makes you a tax resident
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (on income over 10 million MNT/month), otherwise 10%
- VAT
- 10% (can get 2% refund via E-Barimt app)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, basic rules apply
- Property Tax
- 0.6% to 1.0% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% stamp duty/transfer tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Low flat income tax rate (10%) for most income levels