Japan vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1130
$1593
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2751
$3450
🏠 One person rent
$510
$937
🏘️ Family rent
$843
$1622
🍽️ Food expenses
$388
$495
🚐 Transport expenses
$134
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1977
$137
💸 GDP per capita
$32476
$1261
😃 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
12
🏙️ Population
124M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1130) is 29% less expensive than in North Korea ($1593). Japan ranked 76th vs 33rd 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

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
$6.32
$8.45
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$34.1
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.95
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.96
$1.85
 Cappuccino
$3.11
$1.89
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.09
$0.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$514
$866
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$355
$785
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1107
$3106
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$694
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$92.9
$81
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$143
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$30.2
$55.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.8%
12.59%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4931
$1543
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2794
$951
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.66
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.9
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$25.5
$19.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.11
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.43
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.42
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.03
$2.65
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.06
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.2
$9.46
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.28
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18.7
$6.92
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.71
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.47
$1.2
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.68
$1.63
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.51
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.62
$3
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.39
$1.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.6
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.46
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.31
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.93
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.66
$2.84
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.3
$3.39
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.65
$2.83
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.36
$1.51
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.63
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$53.7
$24.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.1
$4.32
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.3
$16.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$16.4
$3.5
👖 Brand Jeans
$45.2
$28.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56.9
$63.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$336
$95.1
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12869
$3364

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
$1336
3.76M
Osaka
$1237
2.75M
Nagoya
$1189
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1354
1.54M
Sapporo
$1181
1.96M
Hiroshima
$883
1.2M
Kyoto
$1107
1.46M
Kobe
$1106
1.52M
Saitama
$1037
1.33M
Fukuoka
$1065
1.6M
Chiba
$1251
975K
Shizuoka
$1025
686K
Sakai
$1115
824K
Sagamihara
$1021
726K
Sendai
$1069
1.06M
Niigata
$1007
791K
Kitakyushu
$1078
935K
Funabashi
$1117
641K
Hachioji
$1286
576K
Kawaguchi
$1025
594K
Hamamatsu
$1016
788K
Kumamoto
$991
738K
Kagoshima
$1016
594K
Kashiwa
$1116
428K
Utsunomiya
$1052
518K
Machida
$1049
434K
Matsudo
$1024
498K
Ichikawa
$1041
496K
Nishinomiya
$1091
487K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1659
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1597
668K
Sunchon
$1573
437K
Nampo
$1565
367K
Wonsan
$1569
363K
Sinuiju
$1564
359K
Tanchon
$1570
346K
Kaechon
$1569
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1568
308K
Haeju
$1565
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1563
240K
Tokchon
$1555
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1556
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1483
197K
Hyesan
$1550
193K
Chongju
$1553
190K
Huichon
$1544
168K
Sinpo
$1535
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K