Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1131
$1598
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2766
$3465
🏠 One person rent
$508
$940
🏘️ Family rent
$842
$1624
🍽️ Food expenses
$391
$497
🚐 Transport expenses
$133
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1971
$119
💸 GDP per capita
$32487
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
8.6
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
84
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
15
🌐 English speaking %
15%
0%
🎓 Higher education
98
17
😀 Quality of life
89
10
🏙️ Population
124M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1131) is 29% less expensive than in North Korea ($1598). Japan ranked 78th 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 1.7 months in Japan compared to 0.1 months in North Korea. Ranked 20th and 191st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Japan vs North Korea

We calculate prices for Japan and North Korea as a population-weighted mean of 907 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.

Japan North Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.55
$8.48
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$34.6
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.99
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.16
$1.83
 Cappuccino
$3.09
$1.94
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.12
$0.55
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$526
$869
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$353
$787
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1138
$3092
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$682
$1565
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$94.4
$81.1
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$146
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$30.9
$55.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.89%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5340
$1458
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2928
$844
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.62
$0.34
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$60.5
$46.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$24.8
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.11
$0.9
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.43
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.4
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.31
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.1
$2.57
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$9.51
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.36
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$20.7
$6.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.87
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.37
$1.19
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.9
$1.64
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.67
$6.93
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.6
$3.02
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.59
$1.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.36
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.37
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.07
$6.93
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.95
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.92
$2.91
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$9.73
$3.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.47
$2.92
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.31
$1.57
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.56
$4.45
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$55
$24.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.2
$4.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$35
$16.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.8
$4.06
👖 Brand Jeans
$46.6
$28.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$57.2
$62.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$388
$108
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$13435
$3833

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Japan vs North Korea

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Japan

City Cost of living Population
Tokyo
$1698
14.3M
Yokohama
$1343
3.76M
Osaka
$1274
2.75M
Nagoya
$1196
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1399
1.54M
Sapporo
$1121
1.96M
Hiroshima
$877
1.2M
Kobe
$1103
1.52M
Kyoto
$1128
1.46M
Fukuoka
$1045
1.6M
Saitama
$1073
1.33M
Sagamihara
$992
726K
Sakai
$1127
824K
Chiba
$1263
975K
Shizuoka
$961
686K
Kitakyushu
$1088
935K
Sendai
$1010
1.06M
Hachioji
$1343
576K
Funabashi
$1130
641K
Niigata
$1024
791K
Kawaguchi
$1050
594K
Kumamoto
$957
738K
Hamamatsu
$991
788K
Kagoshima
$991
594K
Machida
$1066
434K
Kashiwa
$1145
428K
Himeji
$1009
528K
Utsunomiya
$1036
518K
Nishinomiya
$1093
487K
Okayama
$910
720K

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