Beijing vs Pyongyang - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Beijing Pyongyang
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1016
$1675
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2879
$4114
🏠 One person rent
$575
$959
🏘️ Family rent
$1275
$2118
🍽️ Food expenses
$245
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$102
$168
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1443
$411
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
13 km
15 km
🎓 Higher education
100
19
😀 Quality of life
75
20
🏙️ Population
21.9M
2.86M

The cost of living in Beijing is 39% less expensive than in Pyongyang. Cities ranked 5387th and 2779th ($1016 vs $1675) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 7th and 1st in China and North Korea, respectively. Check China vs North Korea comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.4 months in Beijing compared to 0.2 months in Pyongyang. Beijing ranked 5th best city to live in China vs Pyongyang ranked 1st in North Korea, while ranked 989th and 8868th among best cities to live in the world.

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the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Beijing vs Pyongyang infographic

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Prices in Beijing vs Pyongyang

Prices for goods and services in Beijing and Pyongyang are partly crowdsourced by our visitors, just like yourself. Please consider telling us about your city.

Beijing Pyongyang
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.86
$8.46
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$29.5
$112
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.36
$5.05
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.22
$1.87
 Cappuccino
$3.58
$1.89
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.46
$0.51
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$819
$892
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$456
$805
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1965
$3191
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1021
$1625
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.6
$81.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$51.7
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$13
$55.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.78%
12.14%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$14717
$1656
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6695
$984
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.69
$0.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$32.3
$47.4
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.77
$19
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.12
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.76
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.46
$2.62
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$2.61
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.84
$2.54
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.7
$9.54
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.23
$18.1
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.64
$6.86
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.1
$3.15
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$1.16
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.79
$1.49
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.84
$2.95
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.96
$0.97
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.35
$0.32
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.33
$2.15
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.26
$6.94
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.83
$2.71
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.43
$2.82
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.49
$3.34
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.51
$2.9
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.33
$1.52
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.93
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$53.9
$24.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.3
$4.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.2
$16
💇 Haircut, simple
$9.62
$4.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.8
$28.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$76.9
$63
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$698
$103
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$22456
$3399

Cost of living in other countries

BeijingPyongyang

Cost of living

More cities to compare

Cost of Living in the nearest cities

Cities near Beijing

Distance City Cost of living
50 km or 31 mi Langfang
$716
58 km or 36 mi Zhuozhou
$729
58 km or 36 mi Sanhe
$756
78 km or 49 mi Gaobeidian
$644
87 km or 54 mi Bazhou
$649
109 km or 68 mi Tianjin
$687
135 km or 84 mi Renqiu
$586
137 km or 85 mi Zunhua
$680
139 km or 87 mi Baoding
$472
151 km or 94 mi Binhai
$665
155 km or 97 mi Tangshan
$702
163 km or 101 mi Zhangjiakou
$634
164 km or 102 mi Hejian
$592
176 km or 110 mi Chengde
$711
182 km or 113 mi Cangzhou
$679
189 km or 117 mi Huanghua
$655
189 km or 118 mi Anguo
$550
196 km or 122 mi Dingzhou
$584
197 km or 122 mi Qian'an
$642
198 km or 123 mi Luanzhou
$635
204 km or 127 mi Botou
$618
224 km or 139 mi Shenzhou
$581
228 km or 142 mi Xinle
$533
229 km or 142 mi Pingquan
$629
239 km or 148 mi Jinzhou
$544
241 km or 150 mi Xinji
$564
249 km or 155 mi Gaocheng
$524
249 km or 155 mi Hengshui
$642
252 km or 156 mi Laoling
$638
263 km or 164 mi Shijiazhuang
$481
265 km or 165 mi Datong
$703
272 km or 169 mi Jizhou
$590
273 km or 169 mi Qinhuangdao
$664
273 km or 170 mi Dezhou
$638
281 km or 175 mi Fengzhen
$616
282 km or 175 mi Huairen
$624
294 km or 183 mi Lingyuan
$620
296 km or 184 mi Nangong
$600
302 km or 187 mi Ulanqab
$620
314 km or 195 mi Binzhou
$815

Cities near Pyongyang

Distance City Cost of living
27 km or 17 mi Pyongsong
$1548
44 km or 27 mi Nampo
$1570
46 km or 29 mi Sunchon
$1574
59 km or 36 mi Sariwon
$1561
65 km or 41 mi Anju
$1554
76 km or 47 mi Kaechon
$1565
77 km or 48 mi Chongju
$1547
95 km or 59 mi Tokchon
$1546
111 km or 69 mi Haeju
$1550
115 km or 71 mi Kusong
$1549
135 km or 84 mi Huichon
$1538
138 km or 86 mi Kaesong
$1565
149 km or 92 mi Wonsan
$1568
163 km or 102 mi Paju
$1075
165 km or 102 mi Sinuiju
$1572
165 km or 103 mi Donggang
$505
167 km or 104 mi Dandong
$503
170 km or 106 mi Dongducheon
$1055
178 km or 111 mi Gimpo
$1099
180 km or 112 mi Yangju
$974
180 km or 112 mi Pocheon
$1040
181 km or 112 mi Goyang
$1171
183 km or 113 mi Uijeongbu
$955
184 km or 114 mi Hamhung
$1597
192 km or 119 mi Incheon
$1092
193 km or 120 mi Bucheon
$1163
195 km or 121 mi Seoul
$1334
199 km or 124 mi Gwangmyeong
$1089
202 km or 125 mi Guri
$1122
202 km or 125 mi Namyangju
$1129
209 km or 130 mi Gwacheon
$1070
210 km or 130 mi Anyang
$1022
210 km or 131 mi Hanam
$1161
212 km or 132 mi Ansan
$1070
213 km or 132 mi Fengcheng
$492
213 km or 133 mi Gunpo
$1098
215 km or 134 mi Seongnam
$1400
216 km or 134 mi Uiwang
$1063
216 km or 134 mi Siheung
$1283
217 km or 135 mi Chuncheon
$865