China vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

China North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$663
$1596
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1807
$3476
🏠 One person rent
$276
$941
🏘️ Family rent
$463
$1634
🍽️ Food expenses
$235
$497
🚐 Transport expenses
$72.4
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$868
$142
💸 GDP per capita
$13303
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
4.93
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
78
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
43
15
🌐 English speaking %
0.7%
0%
🎓 Higher education
88
17
😀 Quality of life
52
10
🏙️ Population
1.41B
26.5M

The average cost of living in China ($663) is 58% less expensive than in North Korea ($1596). China ranked 158th vs 36th for North Korea in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.3 months in China compared to 0.1 months in North Korea. Ranked 85th and 190th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in China vs North Korea

We calculate prices for China and North Korea as a population-weighted mean of 544 and 24 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

China North Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.15
$8.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$21.8
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.04
$5.03
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.32
$1.84
 Cappuccino
$2.84
$1.93
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.51
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$316
$864
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$209
$790
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$687
$3092
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$419
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$35.8
$80.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$55.1
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$11
$55.8
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.45%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4148
$1437
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2286
$818
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.37
$0.31
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$20.7
$46.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.21
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.19
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$2.53
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.68
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.01
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.59
$2.57
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.2
$9.51
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.58
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.81
$3.14
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.25
$1.18
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.49
$1.59
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.27
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.76
$3.03
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$0.96
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.39
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.27
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$12
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.86
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.51
$3.17
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5.2
$3.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.85
$2.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$1.52
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.74
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$39.7
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.26
$4.14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.5
$15.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.76
$3.82
👖 Brand Jeans
$46.5
$28
👟 Brand Sneakers
$73.8
$61.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$479
$122
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$17696
$4247

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in China vs North Korea

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In China

City Cost of living Population
Chongqing
$631
32.1M
Shanghai
$1147
24.9M
Chengdu
$688
20.9M
Guangzhou
$785
18.7M
Suzhou
$798
12.7M
Beijing
$1108
21.9M
Shenzhen
$995
17.5M
Tianjin
$682
13.9M
Wuhan
$657
12.3M
Baoding
$480
11.5M
Xi'an
$594
13M
Nanjing
$789
9.31M
Zhengzhou
$523
12.6M
Qingdao
$649
10.1M
Ningbo
$660
9.4M
Hangzhou
$899
11.9M
Changsha
$622
10M
Nantong
$581
7.73M
Shenyang
$612
9.07M
Hefei
$670
9.37M
Jinan
$546
9.2M
Harbin
$713
10M
Linyi
$523
11M
Dongguan
$694
10.5M
Shijiazhuang
$521
10.6M
Changchun
$607
9.07M
Xuzhou
$531
9.08M
Fuzhou
$679
8.29M
Dalian
$737
7.45M
Wenzhou
$774
9.57M

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1669
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1600
668K
Sunchon
$1579
437K
Nampo
$1572
367K
Wonsan
$1570
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1557
308K
Sariwon
$1569
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1556
252K
Anju
$1559
240K
Pyongsong
$1560
237K
Tokchon
$1563
237K
Kimchaek
$1548
207K
Kusong
$1550
197K
Rason
$1485
197K
Hyesan
$1547
193K
Chongju
$1544
190K
Huichon
$1547
168K
Hoeryong
$1477
154K
Sinpo
$1535
153K