Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1109
$1596
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2719
$3476
🏠 One person rent
$500
$941
🏘️ Family rent
$826
$1634
🍽️ Food expenses
$383
$497
🚐 Transport expenses
$129
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1914
$142
💸 GDP per capita
$32487
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
8.6
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
84
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
15
🌐 English speaking %
28%
0%
🎓 Higher education
98
17
😀 Quality of life
90
10
🏙️ Population
124M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1109) is 31% less expensive than in North Korea ($1596). Japan ranked 81st 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 18th 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 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
$6.36
$8.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$33.4
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.84
$5.03
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.07
$1.84
 Cappuccino
$2.99
$1.93
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.16
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$528
$864
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$347
$790
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1147
$3092
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$693
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$90.7
$80.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$140
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$30.9
$55.8
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.98%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5087
$1437
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2842
$818
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.59
$0.31
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.9
$46.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$23.9
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.05
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.4
$2.53
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.4
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.22
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.01
$2.57
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.3
$9.51
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.17
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$20
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.53
$3.14
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.33
$1.18
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.67
$1.59
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.68
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.55
$3.03
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.59
$0.96
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.34
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.67
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.84
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.74
$3.17
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$9.68
$3.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.41
$2.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.29
$1.52
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.53
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.5
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$11.7
$4.14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.1
$15.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.4
$3.82
👖 Brand Jeans
$45
$28
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56
$61.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$448
$122
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$13117
$4247

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Japan vs North Korea

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Japan

City Cost of living Population
Tokyo
$1679
14.3M
Yokohama
$1326
3.76M
Osaka
$1254
2.75M
Nagoya
$1141
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1358
1.54M
Sapporo
$1137
1.96M
Hiroshima
$842
1.2M
Kyoto
$1100
1.46M
Kobe
$1185
1.52M
Fukuoka
$1018
1.6M
Saitama
$1055
1.33M
Sagamihara
$978
726K
Sakai
$1099
824K
Hachioji
$1318
576K
Chiba
$1232
975K
Shizuoka
$895
686K
Kitakyushu
$1041
935K
Amagasaki
$1059
456K
Funabashi
$1119
641K
Sendai
$1007
1.06M
Yokosuka
$1120
390K
Kumamoto
$922
738K
Kawaguchi
$1045
594K
Machida
$1047
434K
Kagoshima
$951
594K
Himeji
$976
528K
Kashiwa
$1108
428K
Utsunomiya
$1063
518K
Niigata
$1018
791K
Hamamatsu
$995
788K

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