North Korea vs Taiwan - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea Taiwan
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1595
$965
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3883
$2750
🏠 One person rent
$940
$389
🏘️ Family rent
$2056
$897
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$371
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$99.1
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$401
$1469
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$24828
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.61
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
79.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
67
🌐 English speaking %
0%
30%
🎓 Higher education
18
89
😀 Quality of life
10
78
🏙️ Population
26.4M
23.4M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1595) is 65% more expensive than in Taiwan ($965). North Korea ranked 25th vs 90th for Taiwan 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 Taiwan. Ranked 190th and 31st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in North Korea vs Taiwan infographic

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Prices in North Korea vs Taiwan

We calculate prices for North Korea and Taiwan as a population-weighted mean of 24 and 17 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 Taiwan
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.47
$4.71
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$27.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.03
$4.83
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.8
$2.22
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$2.78
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$0.99
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$866
$408
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$788
$299
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3091
$1049
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1573
$741
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$47.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$74
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.7
$20.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.05%
2.04%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1542
$7466
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$936
$4358
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$0.67
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$33.9
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$9.34
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.94
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$3.08
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.62
$1.72
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$2.61
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$2.7
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.5
$14.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18.1
$7.84
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.84
$17
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.12
$4.31
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$2.05
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$2.36
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$3.26
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$2.24
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.98
$1.9
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$0.66
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$1.72
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.94
$11.6
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$1.51
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.85
$3.69
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.57
$10.2
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.89
$6.81
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$1.79
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$2.46
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.5
$34.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$9.51
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.1
$38.7
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.07
$13.3
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.5
$74.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$62.1
$84.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$101
$392
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3222
$16067

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in North Korea vs Taiwan

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 Taiwan

City Cost of living Population
New Taipei
$1073
4.04M
Taipei
$1181
2.6M
Taichung
$894
3.03M
Kaohsiung
$956
2.73M
Tainan
$814
1.87M
Taoyuan
$875
2.33M
Hsinchu
$897
499K
Keelung
$967
367K
Zhubei
$821
218K
Chiayi
$747
252K
Changhua
$813
225K
Kinmen
$823
144K
Miaoli
$728
86.2K
Douliu
$770
109K
Nantou
$796
97.3K
Yilan
$731
95K
Taitung
$788
103K