North Korea vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1593
$1016
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3450
$2301
🏠 One person rent
$937
$520
🏘️ Family rent
$1622
$843
🍽️ Food expenses
$495
$290
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$120
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$137
$1121
💸 GDP per capita
$1261
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
7.1
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
66.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
41
🌐 English speaking %
0%
31%
🎓 Higher education
18
82
😀 Quality of life
12
40
🏙️ Population
26.5M
64M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1593) is 57% more expensive than in South Africa ($1016). North Korea ranked 33rd vs 94th 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 1.1 months in South Africa. Ranked 190th and 128th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in North Korea vs South Africa infographic

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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
$8.45
$9.29
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$37.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$4.92
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.85
$2.37
 Cappuccino
$1.89
$2.1
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.53
$1.09
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$866
$518
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$785
$376
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3106
$933
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1564
$746
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81
$75.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$117
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.4
$40.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.59%
11.51%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1543
$1209
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$951
$891
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.36
$2.01
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.2
$46.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.3
$10.7
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.27
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.18
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$1.01
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$1.56
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$2.45
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.46
$8.66
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$5.01
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.92
$7.26
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.12
$1.67
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$1.6
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.63
$1.62
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$1.65
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3
$1.35
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.01
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$0.68
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$1.44
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.96
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$1.42
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.84
$3.01
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.39
$5.02
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.83
$3.6
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.51
$1.86
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.43
$1.35
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$24.4
$32.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.32
$6.96
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.2
$29.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$3.5
$6.48
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.2
$52.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63.8
$96.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$95.1
$201
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3364
$4714

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
$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

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1082
4.43M
Soweto
$984
1.27M
Cape Town
$1231
3.78M
Pretoria
$975
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$705
839K
Rustenburg
$940
550K
Durban
$892
595K
Centurion
$892
237K
Sandton
$984
222K
Randburg
$890
337K
East London
$784
267K
Kimberley
$861
225K
Benoni
$826
159K
George
$857
157K
Klerksdorp
$762
187K
Springs
$740
122K
Kroonstad
$808
169K
Paarl
$1243
112K
Potchefstroom
$731
149K
Vereeniging
$706
99K
Middelburg
$830
87.3K
Makhanda
$814
67.3K
Uitenhage
$946
104K
Worcester
$666
97.1K
Vanderbijlpark
$799
95.8K
Port Elizabeth
$1005
312K
Upington
$746
121K
Mthatha
$901
96.1K
Bloemfontein
$698
256K
Komani
$988
68.9K