North Korea vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1598
$1102
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3465
$2487
🏠 One person rent
$940
$568
🏘️ Family rent
$1624
$919
🍽️ Food expenses
$497
$316
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$124
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$119
$1286
💸 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%
31%
🎓 Higher education
17
82
😀 Quality of life
10
42
🏙️ Population
26.5M
64M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1598) is 45% more expensive than in South Africa ($1102). North Korea ranked 36th vs 81st 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 1.2 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

Share this infographic!

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
$8.48
$10.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$40.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$5.34
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.83
$2.57
 Cappuccino
$1.94
$2.32
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.55
$1.2
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$869
$579
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$787
$416
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3092
$1083
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1565
$849
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.1
$84.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$130
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.6
$39.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.65%
11.19%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1458
$1265
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$844
$951
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.34
$1.95
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.6
$53.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$9.1
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.9
$1.35
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.29
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$1.12
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$1.79
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.57
$2.59
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.51
$8.89
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$5.51
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.9
$7.92
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$1.83
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$1.75
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$1.83
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.93
$1.81
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.02
$1.54
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.01
$1.58
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.76
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$1.56
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.93
$6.03
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.7
$1.56
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.91
$3.29
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.5
$5.69
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.92
$4.01
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.57
$2.13
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.45
$1.42
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$24.1
$36
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$7.67
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.8
$31.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.06
$7.36
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.2
$57
👟 Brand Sneakers
$62.7
$104
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$108
$227
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3833
$5433

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
$1675
2.86M
Hamhung
$1604
769K
Chongjin
$1593
668K
Sunchon
$1574
437K
Nampo
$1580
367K
Wonsan
$1572
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1572
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1563
308K
Haeju
$1568
273K
Kanggye
$1560
252K
Anju
$1551
240K
Tokchon
$1560
237K
Pyongsong
$1551
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Kusong
$1540
197K
Rason
$1477
197K
Hyesan
$1553
193K
Chongju
$1539
190K
Huichon
$1545
168K
Sinpo
$1544
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1171
4.8M
Soweto
$1057
1.27M
Cape Town
$1366
3.78M
Pretoria
$1049
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$716
839K
Rustenburg
$1017
550K
Durban
$948
595K
Sandton
$1089
222K
Centurion
$967
237K
East London
$795
267K
Kimberley
$927
225K
Benoni
$892
159K
Randburg
$958
337K
George
$927
157K
Kroonstad
$875
169K
Springs
$792
122K
Klerksdorp
$826
187K
Potchefstroom
$791
149K
Vereeniging
$765
99.8K
Paarl
$1345
112K
Uitenhage
$980
104K
Middelburg
$899
87.3K
Port Elizabeth
$1036
312K
Komani
$1050
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$865
95.8K
Mthatha
$952
96.1K
Upington
$811
121K
Bloemfontein
$763
256K
Makhanda
$874
67.3K
Worcester
$718
97.1K