North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1592
$2433
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3890
$5667
🏠 One person rent
$939
$1552
🏘️ Family rent
$2067
$2714
🍽️ Food expenses
$494
$618
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$104
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$380
$4694
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$76330
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.39
❤️ Life expectancy
73.3
76.3
👮 Corruption perceptions index
17
69
🌐 English speaking %
0%
95.5%
🎓 Higher education
18
100
😀 Quality of life
10
86
🏙️ Population
25.5M
331M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1592) is 35% less expensive than in the United States ($2433). North Korea ranked 26th vs 7th for the United States in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.2 months in North Korea compared to 1.9 months in the United States. Ranked 191st and 21st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in North Korea vs United States infographic

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Prices in North Korea vs the United States

We calculate prices for North Korea and the United States as a population-weighted mean of 24 and 2202 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 United States
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.42
$18.4
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$73.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.99
$10.5
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.77
$6.08
 Cappuccino
$1.77
$5.09
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.53
$2.51
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$870
$1611
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$785
$1301
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3116
$2861
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1578
$2352
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.5
$122
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$188
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.9
$67
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
10.73%
6.5%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1461
$4763
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$818
$3852
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.36
$2.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.2
$71.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.3
$18.4
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.99
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.09
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.65
$3.44
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.63
$4.32
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$3.89
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.48
$13
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$11.8
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.27
$16.4
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$5.02
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.15
$1.78
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$4.43
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$4.66
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.01
$2.78
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.93
$2.87
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$1.41
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.15
$2.51
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.94
$14.4
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$2.12
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.77
$10.1
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.59
$9.27
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3
$5.79
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$4.29
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.41
$2.09
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$21.8
$50
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.25
$13.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16
$116
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.27
$20.4
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.5
$53.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$59.7
$89.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$102
$1423
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3251
$19463

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in North Korea vs the United States

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1663
2.86M
Hamhung
$1596
769K
Chongjin
$1590
668K
Sunchon
$1583
437K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1565
346K
Kaechon
$1562
320K
Nampo
$1571
311K
Sariwon
$1557
308K
Kanggye
$1555
252K
Haeju
$1560
242K
Anju
$1551
240K
Tokchon
$1558
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1544
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1489
197K
Hyesan
$1546
193K
Kaesong
$1542
193K
Chongju
$1538
190K
Huichon
$1546
168K
Hoeryong
$1469
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K

In the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4044
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3165
3.9M
Chicago
$2613
2.75M
Houston
$2221
2.3M
San Diego
$3427
1.39M
Phoenix
$2390
1.61M
Dallas
$2497
1.3M
San Jose
$3502
1.01M
Philadelphia
$2422
1.6M
San Francisco
$3729
874K
San Antonio
$2219
1.43M
Austin
$2590
962K
Seattle
$2974
737K
Washington
$3079
690K
Indianapolis
$2129
888K
Charlotte
$2710
875K
Hempstead
$2627
793K
Fort Worth
$2173
919K
Boston
$3345
676K
Jacksonville
$2246
950K
Denver
$2771
716K
Columbus
$2202
906K
Nashville
$2623
689K
Portland
$2579
653K
Louisville
$1918
633K
Atlanta
$2648
499K
Baltimore
$2197
586K
Detroit
$1979
639K
Las Vegas
$2408
642K
El Paso
$1613
679K