Costa Rica vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1287
$1593
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3093
$3450
🏠 One person rent
$597
$937
🏘️ Family rent
$919
$1622
🍽️ Food expenses
$476
$495
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.9
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1027
$137
💸 GDP per capita
$18587
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
80.8
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
58
15
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
0%
🎓 Higher education
75
18
😀 Quality of life
65
12
🏙️ Population
5.13M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1287) is 19% less expensive than in North Korea ($1593). Costa Rica ranked 55th vs 33rd 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 57th 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
$9.34
$8.45
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$48.6
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$9.33
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.58
$1.85
 Cappuccino
$4.15
$1.89
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$2.05
$0.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$687
$866
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$440
$785
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1117
$3106
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$770
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$60
$81
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$93
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$47.1
$55.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
10.13%
12.59%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2715
$1543
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1648
$951
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.01
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$51.7
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$15.8
$19.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.44
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.11
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.39
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.14
$2.65
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.96
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.2
$9.46
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.31
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.6
$6.92
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.1
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.43
$1.2
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.79
$1.63
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.06
$3
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.95
$1.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.7
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.15
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.5
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$5.02
$2.84
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.13
$3.39
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$8.94
$2.83
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.06
$1.51
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.78
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$53.5
$24.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.85
$4.32
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$94.8
$16.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$16.8
$3.5
👖 Brand Jeans
$57.7
$28.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$123
$63.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$562
$95.1
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11369
$3364

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Costa Rica

City Cost of living Population
San Jose
$1398
342K
Limon
$1288
71.5K
Alajuela
$1303
44.4K
Liberia
$953
65.9K
Cartago
$1241
22.8K
Puntarenas
$821
41.5K
Heredia
$1335
16.7K
Tamarindo
$1714
7.13K
Santa Teresa
$1236
3K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1659
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1597
668K
Sunchon
$1573
437K
Nampo
$1565
367K
Wonsan
$1569
363K
Sinuiju
$1564
359K
Tanchon
$1570
346K
Kaechon
$1569
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1568
308K
Haeju
$1565
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1563
240K
Tokchon
$1555
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1556
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1483
197K
Hyesan
$1550
193K
Chongju
$1553
190K
Huichon
$1544
168K
Sinpo
$1535
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K