North Korea vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1596
$1116
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3476
$2517
🏠 One person rent
$941
$573
🏘️ Family rent
$1634
$928
🍽️ Food expenses
$497
$324
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$125
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$142
$395
💸 GDP per capita
$1261
$6267
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
7.07
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
66.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
41
🌐 English speaking %
0%
50.7%
🎓 Higher education
17
82
😀 Quality of life
10
38
🏙️ Population
26.5M
64M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1596) is 43% more expensive than in South Africa ($1116). North Korea ranked 36th vs 79th for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.1 months in North Korea compared to 0.4 months in South Africa. Ranked 190th and 135th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in North Korea vs South Africa

We calculate prices for North Korea and South Africa as a population-weighted mean of 24 and 36 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 South Africa
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.5
$10.6
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$41.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.03
$5.7
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.84
$2.46
 Cappuccino
$1.93
$2.34
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.54
$1.2
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$864
$579
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$790
$417
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3092
$1059
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1564
$867
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$80.8
$95.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$147
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.8
$39.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.65%
11.1%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1437
$1300
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$818
$937
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.31
$1.91
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.8
$60.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$9.05
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.34
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.53
$1.27
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$1.12
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$1.81
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.57
$2.6
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.51
$8.53
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$5.69
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.88
$8.33
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.14
$1.94
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.18
$1.81
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.59
$1.88
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$1.9
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.03
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.96
$1.6
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$0.81
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$1.52
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.96
$5.87
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.7
$1.61
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.17
$3.26
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.48
$5.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.86
$3.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.52
$2.06
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.43
$1.38
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.3
$35.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.14
$7.85
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.9
$30.7
💇 Haircut, simple
$3.82
$7.32
👖 Brand Jeans
$28
$56.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.7
$107
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$122
$235
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4247
$5552

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in North Korea vs South Africa

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1669
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1600
668K
Sunchon
$1579
437K
Nampo
$1572
367K
Wonsan
$1570
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1557
308K
Sariwon
$1569
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1556
252K
Anju
$1559
240K
Pyongsong
$1560
237K
Tokchon
$1563
237K
Kimchaek
$1548
207K
Kusong
$1550
197K
Rason
$1485
197K
Hyesan
$1547
193K
Chongju
$1544
190K
Huichon
$1547
168K
Hoeryong
$1477
154K
Sinpo
$1535
153K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1204
4.8M
Cape Town
$1386
3.78M
Soweto
$1031
1.27M
Pretoria
$1015
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$725
619K
Durban
$938
595K
Rustenburg
$994
550K
Randburg
$912
337K
Port Elizabeth
$1020
312K
East London
$773
267K
Bloemfontein
$742
256K
Centurion
$997
237K
Kimberley
$904
225K
Sandton
$1104
222K
Klerksdorp
$860
187K
Kroonstad
$872
169K
Benoni
$851
159K
George
$877
157K
Potchefstroom
$789
149K
Upington
$796
121K
Springs
$784
122K
Paarl
$1421
112K
Uitenhage
$968
104K
Vereeniging
$742
99.8K
Vanderbijlpark
$867
95.8K
Worcester
$763
97.1K
Mthatha
$953
96.1K
Middelburg
$875
87.3K
Komani
$1033
68.9K
Makhanda
$863
67.3K