North Korea vs Saudi Arabia - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea Saudi Arabia
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1597
$1194
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3888
$2731
🏠 One person rent
$942
$601
🏘️ Family rent
$2057
$961
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$330
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$145
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$410
$2263
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$28895
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
4.53
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
77.9
👮 Corruption perceptions index
17
52
🌐 English speaking %
0%
55%
🎓 Higher education
18
80
😀 Quality of life
8
63
🏙️ Population
25.5M
33M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1597) is 34% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia ($1194). North Korea ranked 29th vs 53rd for Saudi Arabia in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.3 months in North Korea compared to 1.9 months in Saudi Arabia. Ranked 191st and 55th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in North Korea vs Saudi Arabia infographic

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Prices in North Korea vs Saudi Arabia

We calculate prices for North Korea and Saudi Arabia as a population-weighted mean of 24 and 22 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.

North Korea Saudi Arabia
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.49
$6.76
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$45.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$7.7
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.82
$1.78
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$3.86
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.54
$0.77
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$868
$574
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$789
$437
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3099
$1160
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1571
$697
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$63.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$97.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.6
$73.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.41%
4.69%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1567
$1903
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$874
$1194
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$1.13
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$45.5
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.1
$15.8
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.6
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.53
$1.7
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$1.03
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$2.09
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.55
$2.6
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$7.36
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$7.54
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.74
$12.6
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$2.18
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$1.64
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$1.65
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$1.6
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$1.27
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1
$1.32
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$0.4
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$2.05
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.93
$5.4
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$1.82
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.81
$7.01
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.48
$3.78
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.93
$4.27
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.56
$2.3
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$3.44
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.3
$96.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.26
$15.4
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.3
$38.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.17
$5.86
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.6
$44.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$64
$93
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$102
$336
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3385
$7809

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in North Korea vs Saudi Arabia

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

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

In Saudi Arabia

City Cost of living Population
Riyadh
$1586
7.01M
Jeddah
$1123
4.7M
Mecca
$940
2.43M
Medina
$853
1.41M
Dammam
$989
903K
Tabuk
$988
886K
Qatif
$878
625K
Jubail
$928
379K
Yanbu
$837
299K
Al-Mubarraz
$783
299K
Unaizah
$940
250K
Abha
$915
236K
Dhahran
$870
138K
Ha'il
$944
311K
Sakakah
$806
150K
Ar Rass
$828
92.5K
Bareq
$895
75.4K
Najran
$934
72K
Al Wajh
$879
50K
Dumat al-Jandal
$821
45.3K
Bisha
$895
31.5K
As Sulayyil
$1021
8.21K