Costa Rica vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1328
$1598
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3222
$3465
🏠 One person rent
$625
$940
🏘️ Family rent
$982
$1624
🍽️ Food expenses
$489
$497
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.1
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1013
$119
💸 GDP per capita
$18587
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
8.36
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
80.8
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
56
15
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
0%
🎓 Higher education
75
17
😀 Quality of life
65
10
🏙️ Population
5.13M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1328) is 17% less expensive than in North Korea ($1598). Costa Rica ranked 52nd 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 0.8 months in Costa Rica compared to 0.1 months in North Korea. Ranked 59th and 191st best countries to live in the world.

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the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Costa Rica vs North Korea

We calculate prices for Costa Rica and North Korea as a population-weighted mean of 9 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.

Costa Rica North Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$9.94
$8.48
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$48.4
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$9.69
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$1.83
 Cappuccino
$4.25
$1.94
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$2.1
$0.55
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$700
$869
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$471
$787
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1192
$3092
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$811
$1565
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$61.4
$81.1
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$94.1
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$50.2
$55.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
9.37%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2325
$1458
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1680
$844
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1
$0.34
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.9
$46.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$14.5
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.42
$0.9
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.23
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.45
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.26
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.88
$2.57
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.1
$9.51
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.53
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.5
$6.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.23
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.48
$1.19
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.83
$1.64
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.05
$6.93
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.18
$3.02
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.83
$1.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.69
$0.36
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.29
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$17
$6.93
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.36
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$5.27
$2.91
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.13
$3.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$9.94
$2.92
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.51
$1.57
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.3
$4.45
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$55.6
$24.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$7.79
$4.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$96.2
$16.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.9
$4.06
👖 Brand Jeans
$64.1
$28.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$125
$62.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$642
$108
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$13147
$3833

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Costa Rica

City Cost of living Population
San Jose
$1454
335K
Limon
$1332
71.5K
Alajuela
$1323
44.4K
Liberia
$957
65.9K
Puntarenas
$825
41.5K
Cartago
$1290
22.8K
Heredia
$1378
16.7K
Tamarindo
$1832
7.13K
Santa Teresa
$1273
3K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1675
2.86M
Hamhung
$1604
769K
Chongjin
$1593
668K
Sunchon
$1574
437K
Nampo
$1580
367K
Wonsan
$1572
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1572
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1563
308K
Haeju
$1568
273K
Kanggye
$1560
252K
Anju
$1551
240K
Tokchon
$1560
237K
Pyongsong
$1551
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Kusong
$1540
197K
Rason
$1477
197K
Hyesan
$1553
193K
Chongju
$1539
190K
Huichon
$1545
168K
Sinpo
$1544
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K