Colombo vs Ulaanbaatar: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Colombo and Ulaanbaatar cost about the same per month ($1,050).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Ulaanbaatar against $450 in Colombo.
- Colombo scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Ulaanbaatar: 110 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Colombo is tropical; Ulaanbaatar is continental.
Colombo wins 2 of the measured lines; Ulaanbaatar wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Colombo or Ulaanbaatar?
Colombo and Ulaanbaatar cost about the same per month for a remote worker, both around $1,050.
Which city is safer, Colombo or Ulaanbaatar?
Colombo scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Ulaanbaatar.
Which has faster internet, Colombo or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has faster typical internet: 110 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Colombo.
| Line | Colombo | Ulaanbaatar |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,050 |
| Rent | $450 | $400 |
| Food | $300 | $300 |
| Transport | $40 | $30 |
| Coworking | $90 | $80 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 110 |
| Climate | tropical | continental |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 5/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Colombo November 6, 2026, Ulaanbaatar September 11, 2026.