North Korea vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1597
$972
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3888
$2272
🏠 One person rent
$942
$492
🏘️ Family rent
$2057
$860
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$276
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$121
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$410
$1527
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
6.92
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
17
41
🌐 English speaking %
0%
31%
🎓 Higher education
18
83
😀 Quality of life
8
37
🏙️ Population
25.5M
62M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1597) is 64% more expensive than in South Africa ($972). North Korea ranked 29th vs 90th 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 0.3 months in North Korea compared to 1.6 months in South Africa. Ranked 191st and 124th 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
$8.49
$8.2
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$35.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$4.71
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.82
$2.23
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$2.03
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.54
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$868
$491
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$789
$357
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3099
$867
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1571
$678
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$66.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$102
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.6
$41.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.41%
11.47%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1567
$1199
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$874
$888
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$1.77
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$53.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.1
$9.36
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.53
$1.12
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$0.99
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$1.45
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.55
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$8.56
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$5.09
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.74
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$1.57
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$1.5
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$1.59
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$1.39
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$0.64
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$1.37
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.93
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$1.37
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.81
$2.94
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.48
$4.76
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.93
$3.55
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.56
$1.85
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$1.31
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.3
$30.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.26
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.3
$29.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.17
$6.65
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.6
$50.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$64
$91.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$102
$203
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3385
$4974

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
$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 South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1079
4.43M
Cape Town
$1120
3.78M
Soweto
$971
1.27M
Pretoria
$909
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$674
839K
Rustenburg
$943
550K
Durban
$834
595K
Randburg
$874
337K
Centurion
$838
237K
East London
$703
267K
Sandton
$997
222K
Port Elizabeth
$970
312K
Benoni
$822
159K
Kroonstad
$788
169K
Springs
$696
122K
Klerksdorp
$689
187K
Kimberley
$859
225K
Bloemfontein
$696
256K
Paarl
$850
112K
Vereeniging
$717
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$768
95.8K
Mthatha
$862
96.1K
Potchefstroom
$717
149K
Uitenhage
$901
104K
Komani
$953
68.9K
George
$790
157K
Middelburg
$841
87.3K
Bethal
$819
60.8K
Upington
$741
121K
Brits
$848
53.5K