Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Report of what it's like to live there - 09/22/25
Personal Experiences from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, I have also served in three other posts in Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
DC based, trip is usually 24 to 36 hours. You can generally make it from the U.S. with one connection in Seoul, but the flight from the U.S. to Seoul is 12 to 15 hours. Doing an overnight in Seoul at the airport hotel is convenient and can help you get ahead of jet lag.
3. What years did you live here?
2024-present.
4. How long have you lived here?
One year.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Very comfortable housing that is a nice perk of this post. Star is the family and dog friendly compound, which is comprised of townhouses with a large communal green space. It's great with young kids, who can run around and play with friends safely on the compound. The other option is the Shangri La, which is very nice apartments connected to a large mall with restaurants and a grocery store (great during the winter when you won't have to outside to get milk).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
There is surprisingly good availability of groceries here, including fruits and vegetables. The local dairy is an acquired taste but you get used to it. There's a good Korean chain eMart where you can get a wide variety of goods, and the grocery store in the Shangri La sells a lot of U.S. products.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Spices, canned pumpkin, specialty ingredients for Mexican and Indian food, etc., but you can actually find most things here or order it on Amazon.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There's a ton of good (but perhaps not great) restaurants in UB that serve a wide variety of food: Indian, Mexican, Japanese, ramen, tons of Korean, Italian, Mediterranean, etc. We get good pizza from across the street from Star and order from an Indian place that delivers to our apartment.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Nope! One of the special perks of this post is the lack of pretty much any giant bugs whatsoever. Some small mosquitoes, flies, etc., in the summer but nothing serious.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO takes 2-3 weeks.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Nannies are available, although we had some trouble finding one before we came to post. The going rate for nannies is about $6-7/hour.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Yes, generally very space. Sidewalks are good and fine for running, but I wouldn't necessarily choose to bike in this city. There's a large national park on the south end of the city where you can hike on the weekends and of course boundless opportunities further afield.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There's a gym on both Star and Shangri La compounds, free to use for residents. I also attend yoga classes that are about $8-$15 a class, depending on the teacher.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes, credits cards are pretty widely accepted.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
I know some Mongolian, and it's helpful, but English is increasingly spoken in the city and you can probably pretty easily get by without it.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Potentially, depending on the disability. Sidewalks are generally good but not consistent. Newer buildings have ramps and elevators, but older ones do not.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Yes, taxis are affordable and it's fairly easy to walk from housing to many places.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
If you want to drive outside the city, I recommend a 4WD. We have a Land Cruiser and it works great on Mongolia's many dirt roads.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, you can ask for it to be set up before you arrive.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
I use a local number for data, but also maintain a U.S. eSIM for the U.S. number. The local number was fairly easy to set up once someone told me how to do it.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Mongolian government officials dress pretty formally; business dress is common. Outside of formal government meetings, things are more casual. The embassy is business casual.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
No major personal security concerns, crime is pretty low here. You do need to be careful late at night, drinking is common here and can lead to car accidents or violent fights. Pickpocketing can be a nuisance.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Air quality in the winter is bad, and last year the local healthcare system got overwhelmed with flu cases for a couple weeks, unfortunately leading to a number of deaths, including the child of one of our locally employed staff (LES). If you or your children have asthma or other respiratory issues, I would consult closely with MED before coming here. That said, our MED unit is very good/proactive and will make sure you get the care you need. The LES doctor in the MED unit is a pediatrician, and I hear she is one of the best pediatricians in the country.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Very bad in the winter, good in late spring/summer/fall. The embassy provides air filters. Last year, our air quality monitor was taken away for budget reasons, limiting our ability to measure air quality around the embassy, which is historically very bad. The air pollution is manageable provided you use the air filters, try to stay inside when air is really bad, wear a mask outside when air is bad, and stay on top of health issues.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
The winter can weigh on people. Many people schedule R&Rs or other trips in the winter to get out.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Very cold and dry in the winter, and absolutely perfect weather in the summer. The low humidity and intense sun means it often feels about 10 degrees warmer than it is.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
Most kids currently go to either ISU or the French School. ISU is an IB school with tons of resources (and a price tag to match, although it's covered by State's education allowance). The French School follows traditional French curriculum. There's also an American School that some embassy kids have attended in the past. Our daughter (first grade) goes to ISU and she's happy there.
2. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
We're a tandem with a 2 and a 6 year old and have two full-time nannies (on morning/evening schedules), which costs about $2k per month. It's not cheap but way better than having two kids in DC area preschools, and they cover care for our 6 year old during school breaks or when we have to be at work events after hours.
ISU has a preschool but it's very expensive. Some parents send their kids to the French school for preschool, and there's also a Finnish school and a number of other preschool options.
3. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
There's quite a few activities through ISU. Outside of that there are some options, but they're not as widely available as in the US.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Small. Morale is generally good.
2. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
Generally yes. Mongolians are very friendly.
3. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
There's an LGBT community here, but they are not widely accepted by society. That said, there also aren't many cases of violence against the LGBT community, and I think most of our previous LGBT officers who have served here been happy.
4. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Getting out in the countryside is great. I also love Mongolian music! Their traditional singing, instruments, etc., and the way they take great pride in their traditional culture is very special.
5. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Anything outdoors: hiking, camping, horse riding, dog sledding, etc. You can visit Mongolia's eagle hunters out west, go dog sledding in the dead of winter, climb sand dunes in the Gobi, watch Mongolia's traditional Naadam (festival), see ancient Buddhist traditions, etc.; lots of adventures to check off your bucket list.
6. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Mongolians produce a lot of art and you can buy some unique pieces here.
7. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
If you can handle the cold and pollution in winter, this post is a hidden gem. It's pretty comfortable without some of the challenges that often come with hardship posts (stomach issues, crime, etc.). It's also a great place if you like to play outdoors.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Mongolia is an upper middle income country and UB is a surprisingly modern city, with all the frustrations that come with that, including traffic and pollution. Getting out to the countryside is an amazing reprieve but can also be a long trip due to traffic.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, absolutely. We've been very happy here.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
beach gear.
4. But don't forget your:
sunglasses, wide brimmed hat, heavy down coat, long underwear, and a sense of adventure.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
The Green Eyed Lama
Jack Weatherford's Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
6. Do you have any other comments?
UB is a great post, I highly recommend bidding on it.
