Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1183
$1597
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2864
$3459
🏠 One person rent
$532
$939
🏘️ Family rent
$878
$1620
🍽️ Food expenses
$409
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$138
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2190
$402
💸 GDP per capita
$32476
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
8.73
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
84
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
15
🌐 English speaking %
15%
0%
🎓 Higher education
98
18
😀 Quality of life
89
11
🏙️ Population
124M
26.4M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1183) is 26% less expensive than in North Korea ($1597). Japan ranked 65th vs 34th 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 1.9 months in Japan compared to 0.3 months in North Korea. Ranked 15th and 189th 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
$6.79
$8.47
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.8
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.31
$5.01
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.13
$1.83
 Cappuccino
$3.25
$1.91
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.11
$0.55
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$535
$869
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$367
$786
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1157
$3106
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$729
$1569
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$98.6
$81
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$152
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$32.3
$55.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.81%
12.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5241
$1536
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$3177
$911
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.72
$0.39
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$61.7
$47
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$26.6
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.18
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.52
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.51
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.06
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.18
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.5
$9.48
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.63
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$19.7
$6.98
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.98
$3.11
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.6
$1.22
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4
$1.63
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.76
$6.94
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.76
$3.01
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.55
$1
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.62
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.53
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.55
$6.95
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.02
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.87
$2.88
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.6
$3.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.75
$2.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.54
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.72
$4.44
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$56.9
$24.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.7
$4.35
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$35.3
$17.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$17.2
$4.07
👖 Brand Jeans
$47.7
$29.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.4
$64.1
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$340
$99.4
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12139
$3622

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
$1723
14.3M
Yokohama
$1401
3.76M
Osaka
$1249
2.75M
Nagoya
$1259
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1439
1.54M
Hiroshima
$923
1.2M
Sapporo
$1259
1.96M
Kyoto
$1188
1.46M
Kobe
$1171
1.52M
Saitama
$1085
1.33M
Fukuoka
$1123
1.6M
Sagamihara
$1095
726K
Sendai
$1104
1.06M
Sakai
$1157
824K
Shizuoka
$1080
686K
Kitakyushu
$1097
935K
Yokosuka
$1201
390K
Chiba
$1320
975K
Hachioji
$1339
576K
Amagasaki
$1148
456K
Funabashi
$1184
641K
Wakayama
$1285
353K
Himeji
$1088
528K
Kumamoto
$1039
738K
Kawaguchi
$1073
594K
Utsunomiya
$1110
518K
Niigata
$1103
791K
Hamamatsu
$1071
788K
Machida
$1102
434K
Kagoshima
$1079
594K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1669
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1606
668K
Sunchon
$1586
437K
Nampo
$1575
367K
Wonsan
$1568
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1565
346K
Kaechon
$1572
320K
Kaesong
$1564
308K
Sariwon
$1561
308K
Haeju
$1557
273K
Kanggye
$1561
252K
Anju
$1553
240K
Tokchon
$1555
237K
Pyongsong
$1561
237K
Kimchaek
$1549
207K
Kusong
$1550
197K
Rason
$1482
197K
Hyesan
$1549
193K
Chongju
$1546
190K
Huichon
$1548
168K
Hoeryong
$1468
154K
Sinpo
$1543
153K