North Korea vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1595
$924
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3883
$2166
🏠 One person rent
$940
$470
🏘️ Family rent
$2056
$833
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$264
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$401
$1385
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$6023
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
7.1
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
41
🌐 English speaking %
0%
31%
🎓 Higher education
18
82
😀 Quality of life
10
36
🏙️ Population
26.4M
62M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1595) is 73% more expensive than in South Africa ($924). North Korea ranked 25th 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 0.3 months in North Korea compared to 1.5 months in South Africa. Ranked 190th and 132nd 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
$8.47
$8.19
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$33.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.03
$4.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.8
$2.27
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$1.94
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$866
$462
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$788
$339
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3091
$835
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1573
$654
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$67.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$104
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.7
$38.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.05%
11.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1542
$1135
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$936
$830
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$1.62
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$47.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$9.18
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.22
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.09
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.62
$0.95
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$1.39
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$2.38
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.5
$8.21
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18.1
$4.78
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.84
$6.58
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.12
$1.51
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$1.43
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$1.45
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$1.27
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.98
$1.29
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$0.61
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$1.32
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.94
$5.35
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$1.32
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.85
$2.85
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.57
$4.47
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.89
$3.31
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$1.75
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$1.24
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.5
$29.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$6.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.1
$28
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.07
$5.66
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.5
$47.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$62.1
$89.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$101
$187
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3222
$4572

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
$1597
769K
Chongjin
$1590
668K
Sunchon
$1574
437K
Nampo
$1570
367K
Wonsan
$1568
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1571
346K
Kaechon
$1565
320K
Kaesong
$1565
308K
Sariwon
$1561
308K
Haeju
$1550
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1554
240K
Tokchon
$1546
237K
Pyongsong
$1548
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Rason
$1472
197K
Kusong
$1549
197K
Hyesan
$1549
193K
Chongju
$1547
190K
Huichon
$1538
168K
Hoeryong
$1467
154K
Sinpo
$1537
153K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$993
4.43M
Cape Town
$1071
3.78M
Soweto
$923
1.27M
Pretoria
$906
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$640
839K
Rustenburg
$889
550K
Durban
$809
595K
Randburg
$837
337K
Centurion
$807
237K
Sandton
$953
222K
East London
$766
267K
Port Elizabeth
$901
312K
Benoni
$785
159K
Kroonstad
$768
169K
Springs
$678
122K
Kimberley
$814
225K
Klerksdorp
$722
187K
Bloemfontein
$657
256K
Vanderbijlpark
$773
95.8K
Mthatha
$852
96.1K
Paarl
$1147
112K
Potchefstroom
$695
149K
Uitenhage
$840
104K
Komani
$915
68.9K
George
$743
157K
Vereeniging
$672
99K
Middelburg
$795
87.3K
Bethal
$784
60.8K
Upington
$699
121K
Brits
$820
53.5K