Costa Rica vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Costa Rica North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1073
$1595
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2694
$3899
🏠 One person rent
$465
$942
🏘️ Family rent
$834
$2066
🍽️ Food expenses
$426
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$63.4
$104
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$874
$396
💸 GDP per capita
$13199
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
7.98
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
77
73.3
👮 Corruption perceptions index
54
17
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
0%
🎓 Higher education
76
18
😀 Quality of life
58
11
🏙️ Population
5.21M
25.5M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1073) is 33% less expensive than in North Korea ($1595). Costa Rica ranked 72nd vs 23rd 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 0.2 months in North Korea. Ranked 65th and 190th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs North Korea infographic

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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
$9.23
$8.45
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$41.8
$112
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$8.58
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.64
$1.75
 Cappuccino
$3.67
$1.8
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.76
$0.6
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$541
$867
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$337
$789
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$957
$3117
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$664
$1577
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$45.5
$81.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$70.3
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$41.8
$55.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
10.22%
11.42%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1780
$1407
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1318
$772
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.85
$0.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$49.8
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$13.7
$18.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.5
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.82
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.04
$2.65
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.85
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.33
$2.55
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.29
$9.52
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.2
$18.1
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$6.25
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$3.15
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.25
$1.17
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.15
$1.55
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.28
$6.93
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.29
$3.01
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.51
$0.89
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.42
$0.37
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.97
$2.16
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.7
$6.91
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.38
$2.55
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.16
$3.6
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$6.96
$2.98
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.09
$1.5
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.92
$4.41
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$49.5
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.5
$4.4
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$63.1
$16.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$12
$3.6
👖 Brand Jeans
$66.8
$29.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$107
$62
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$380
$115
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$8305
$4011

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
$1136
342K
Limon
$1048
60.7K
Alajuela
$1021
48.3K
Liberia
$987
67.1K
Puntarenas
$884
41.5K
Cartago
$981
22.8K
Heredia
$879
19K
Tamarindo
$1371
8.14K
Santa Teresa
$999
3K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1662
2.86M
Hamhung
$1602
769K
Chongjin
$1599
668K
Sunchon
$1583
437K
Wonsan
$1569
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1568
346K
Kaechon
$1567
320K
Sariwon
$1568
308K
Nampo
$1568
311K
Kanggye
$1556
252K
Haeju
$1558
242K
Anju
$1557
240K
Tokchon
$1561
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1545
207K
Kusong
$1549
197K
Rason
$1490
197K
Hyesan
$1552
193K
Chongju
$1545
190K
Kaesong
$1553
193K
Huichon
$1548
168K
Hoeryong
$1490
154K
Sinpo
$1543
153K