Beijing vs Pyongyang - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Beijing Pyongyang
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1108
$1669
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2811
$3681
🏠 One person rent
$648
$957
🏘️ Family rent
$1139
$1680
🍽️ Food expenses
$259
$494
🚐 Transport expenses
$101
$167
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$769
$159
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
13 km
15 km
🎓 Higher education
100
19
😀 Quality of life
73
23
🏙️ Population
21.9M
2.86M

The cost of living in Beijing is 34% less expensive than in Pyongyang. Cities ranked 4987th and 3318th ($1108 vs $1669) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 6th 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 0.7 months in Beijing compared to 0.1 months in Pyongyang. Beijing ranked 14th best city to live in China vs Pyongyang ranked 1st in North Korea, while ranked 2361st and 9024th among best cities to live in the world.

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the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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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
$4.47
$8.42
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$29.5
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.19
$5.04
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.17
$1.93
☕ Cappuccino
$3.27
$1.98
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.58
$0.52
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$965
$887
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$510
$804
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1738
$1630
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$909
$1466
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$32.7
$80.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$50
$126
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$14.5
$55.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.19%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$12536
$1605
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6136
$874
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.67
$0.3
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$31.5
$46.9
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.6
$19
⛽ Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.21
$0.9
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.96
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.76
$2.64
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.25
$2.62
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.15
$2.54
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.3
$9.49
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.29
$17.8
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.1
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.23
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.82
$1.12
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.87
$1.56
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.81
$3.01
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.86
$0.93
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.32
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.25
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$11.2
$7.01
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.94
$2.71
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.67
$3.19
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.65
$3.27
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.95
$2.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.51
$1.53
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.03
$4.38
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$54.3
$23.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.12
$4.14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$36.2
$16.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.74
$3.92
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$28
👟 Brand Sneakers
$89.2
$61.1
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$621
$131
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$25910
$4572

Cost of living in other countries

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Cost of Living in the nearest cities

Cities near Beijing

Distance City Cost of living
50 km or 31 mi Langfang
$740
58 km or 36 mi Zhuozhou
$764
58 km or 36 mi Sanhe
$800
78 km or 49 mi Gaobeidian
$666
87 km or 54 mi Bazhou
$666
109 km or 68 mi Tianjin
$682
135 km or 84 mi Renqiu
$586
137 km or 85 mi Zunhua
$697
139 km or 87 mi Baoding
$480
151 km or 94 mi Binhai
$672
155 km or 97 mi Tangshan
$720
163 km or 101 mi Zhangjiakou
$680
164 km or 102 mi Hejian
$576
176 km or 110 mi Chengde
$722
182 km or 113 mi Cangzhou
$623
189 km or 117 mi Huanghua
$645
189 km or 118 mi Anguo
$541
196 km or 122 mi Dingzhou
$556
197 km or 122 mi Qian'an
$648
198 km or 123 mi Luanzhou
$645
204 km or 127 mi Botou
$574
224 km or 139 mi Shenzhou
$525
228 km or 142 mi Xinle
$541
229 km or 142 mi Pingquan
$646
239 km or 148 mi Jinzhou
$541
241 km or 150 mi Xinji
$539
249 km or 155 mi Gaocheng
$541
249 km or 155 mi Hengshui
$480
252 km or 156 mi Laoling
$599
263 km or 164 mi Shijiazhuang
$521
265 km or 165 mi Datong
$789
272 km or 169 mi Jizhou
$522
273 km or 169 mi Qinhuangdao
$589
273 km or 170 mi Dezhou
$511
281 km or 175 mi Fengzhen
$676
282 km or 175 mi Huairen
$684
294 km or 183 mi Lingyuan
$634
296 km or 184 mi Nangong
$579
302 km or 187 mi Ulanqab
$665
314 km or 195 mi Binzhou
$759

Cities near Pyongyang

Distance City Cost of living
27 km or 17 mi Pyongsong
$1560
44 km or 27 mi Nampo
$1572
46 km or 29 mi Sunchon
$1579
59 km or 36 mi Sariwon
$1569
65 km or 41 mi Anju
$1559
76 km or 47 mi Kaechon
$1564
77 km or 48 mi Chongju
$1544
95 km or 59 mi Tokchon
$1563
111 km or 69 mi Haeju
$1562
115 km or 71 mi Kusong
$1550
135 km or 84 mi Huichon
$1547
138 km or 86 mi Kaesong
$1557
149 km or 92 mi Wonsan
$1570
163 km or 102 mi Paju
$1010
165 km or 102 mi Sinuiju
$1572
165 km or 103 mi Donggang
$540
167 km or 104 mi Dandong
$541
170 km or 106 mi Dongducheon
$977
178 km or 111 mi Gimpo
$1040
180 km or 112 mi Yangju
$894
180 km or 112 mi Pocheon
$982
181 km or 112 mi Goyang
$1052
183 km or 113 mi Uijeongbu
$868
184 km or 114 mi Hamhung
$1607
192 km or 119 mi Incheon
$1032
193 km or 120 mi Bucheon
$1090
195 km or 121 mi Seoul
$1296
199 km or 124 mi Gwangmyeong
$1029
202 km or 125 mi Guri
$1089
202 km or 125 mi Namyangju
$1094
209 km or 130 mi Gwacheon
$1031
210 km or 130 mi Anyang
$943
210 km or 131 mi Hanam
$1152
212 km or 132 mi Ansan
$1001
213 km or 132 mi Fengcheng
$526
213 km or 133 mi Gunpo
$1053
215 km or 134 mi Seongnam
$1455
216 km or 134 mi Uiwang
$1022
216 km or 134 mi Siheung
$1313
217 km or 135 mi Chuncheon
$819