Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1097
$1592
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2818
$3890
🏠 One person rent
$496
$939
🏘️ Family rent
$967
$2067
🍽️ Food expenses
$376
$494
🚐 Transport expenses
$130
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2172
$380
💸 GDP per capita
$33824
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
8.4
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
84.4
73.3
👮 Corruption perceptions index
73
17
🌐 English speaking %
15%
0%
🎓 Higher education
98
18
😀 Quality of life
91
10
🏙️ Population
125M
25.5M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1097) is 31% less expensive than in North Korea ($1592). Japan ranked 67th vs 26th 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 2 months in Japan compared to 0.2 months in North Korea. Ranked 14th and 191st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Japan vs North Korea infographic

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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
$6.35
$8.42
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.4
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.89
$4.99
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.02
$1.77
 Cappuccino
$3.07
$1.77
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.04
$0.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$484
$870
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$337
$785
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1107
$3116
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$704
$1578
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.8
$81.5
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$151
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$32.1
$55.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.75%
10.73%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4271
$1461
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2747
$818
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.68
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.4
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$25.3
$19.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.1
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.4
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.51
$2.65
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$2.63
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.08
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.3
$9.48
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.18
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$16.2
$6.27
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.31
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.24
$1.15
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.32
$1.55
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.01
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.4
$3.01
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.21
$0.93
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.42
$2.15
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.28
$6.94
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.88
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.73
$2.77
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.8
$3.59
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.75
$3
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.35
$1.53
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.63
$4.41
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.7
$21.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$11.9
$4.25
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$31.1
$16
💇 Haircut, simple
$16.3
$4.27
👖 Brand Jeans
$41.4
$28.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56.1
$59.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$362
$102
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11309
$3251

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
$1556
14M
Yokohama
$1329
3.76M
Osaka
$1116
2.75M
Nagoya
$1196
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1101
1.54M
Kobe
$1076
1.52M
Sapporo
$1173
1.96M
Sendai
$1026
1.06M
Fukuoka
$1054
1.6M
Hiroshima
$954
1.2M
Saitama
$1063
1.33M
Kyoto
$1026
1.46M
Yokosuka
$1136
390K
Sakai
$1103
824K
Chiba
$1161
975K
Sagamihara
$1020
726K
Kitakyushu
$963
935K
Hachioji
$1117
576K
Kagoshima
$999
594K
Kumamoto
$886
738K
Kawaguchi
$1052
593K
Amagasaki
$1058
459K
Utsunomiya
$998
518K
Niigata
$1056
791K
Funabashi
$1224
641K
Kashiwa
$1136
428K
Hamamatsu
$1033
788K
Shizuoka
$980
686K
Himeji
$1132
528K
Kurashiki
$1004
475K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1663
2.86M
Hamhung
$1596
769K
Chongjin
$1590
668K
Sunchon
$1583
437K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1565
346K
Kaechon
$1562
320K
Nampo
$1571
311K
Sariwon
$1557
308K
Kanggye
$1555
252K
Haeju
$1560
242K
Anju
$1551
240K
Tokchon
$1558
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1544
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1489
197K
Hyesan
$1546
193K
Kaesong
$1542
193K
Chongju
$1538
190K
Huichon
$1546
168K
Hoeryong
$1469
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K