Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1160
$1597
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2959
$3888
🏠 One person rent
$528
$942
🏘️ Family rent
$1024
$2057
🍽️ Food expenses
$394
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$136
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2197
$410
💸 GDP per capita
$33834
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
8.4
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
84
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
73
17
🌐 English speaking %
15%
0%
🎓 Higher education
98
18
😀 Quality of life
89
8
🏙️ Population
125M
25.5M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1160) is 27% less expensive than in North Korea ($1597). Japan ranked 65th vs 29th 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 16th 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
$6.89
$8.49
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$36.4
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.23
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.26
$1.82
 Cappuccino
$3.06
$1.85
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.07
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$531
$868
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$359
$789
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1193
$3099
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$747
$1571
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$100
$81.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$154
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$34
$55.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.83%
12.41%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5404
$1567
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$3197
$874
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.83
$0.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$60.6
$47
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$26.3
$19.1
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.18
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.49
$2.53
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.56
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.15
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.23
$2.55
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.7
$9.45
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.34
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$16.8
$6.74
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.83
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.36
$1.22
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.86
$1.64
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.55
$6.94
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$2.99
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.57
$1
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.58
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.48
$2.16
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.16
$6.93
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.97
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.19
$2.81
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.4
$3.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.78
$2.93
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.41
$1.56
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.69
$4.44
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$57
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.9
$4.26
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.3
$15.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$17.1
$4.17
👖 Brand Jeans
$45.4
$28.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.2
$64
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$350
$102
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11669
$3385

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
$1641
14.3M
Yokohama
$1385
3.76M
Osaka
$1212
2.75M
Nagoya
$1248
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1187
1.54M
Sapporo
$1268
1.96M
Kyoto
$1210
1.46M
Kobe
$1119
1.52M
Sendai
$1111
1.06M
Saitama
$1038
1.33M
Fukuoka
$1162
1.6M
Sakai
$1174
824K
Hiroshima
$1003
1.2M
Yokosuka
$1153
390K
Sagamihara
$1060
726K
Chiba
$1244
975K
Kitakyushu
$1044
935K
Kagoshima
$1092
594K
Hachioji
$1252
576K
Kumamoto
$970
738K
Wakayama
$1226
353K
Amagasaki
$1132
456K
Kawaguchi
$1056
594K
Utsunomiya
$1048
518K
Niigata
$1108
791K
Shizuoka
$991
686K
Hamamatsu
$1046
788K
Funabashi
$1145
641K
Himeji
$1212
528K
Kurashiki
$1103
475K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1672
2.86M
Hamhung
$1603
769K
Chongjin
$1602
668K
Sunchon
$1576
437K
Nampo
$1574
367K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1568
359K
Tanchon
$1568
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1567
308K
Sariwon
$1564
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1562
252K
Anju
$1550
240K
Tokchon
$1553
237K
Pyongsong
$1555
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Rason
$1488
197K
Kusong
$1547
197K
Hyesan
$1552
193K
Chongju
$1555
190K
Huichon
$1545
168K
Hoeryong
$1479
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K