North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1598
$2515
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3465
$5738
🏠 One person rent
$940
$1593
🏘️ Family rent
$1624
$2641
🍽️ Food expenses
$497
$654
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$101
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$119
$4433
💸 GDP per capita
$1261
$84534
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.71
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
78.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
64
🌐 English speaking %
0%
95.3%
🎓 Higher education
17
100
😀 Quality of life
10
88
🏙️ Population
26.5M
340M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1598) is 36% less expensive than in the United States ($2515). North Korea ranked 36th vs 10th 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 0.1 months in North Korea compared to 1.8 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

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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
$8.48
$19.7
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$78.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$11.6
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.83
$6.36
 Cappuccino
$1.94
$5.38
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.55
$2.69
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$869
$1682
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$787
$1341
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3092
$3111
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1565
$2433
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.1
$129
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$198
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.6
$68.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.65%
6.36%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1458
$4955
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$844
$3526
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.34
$2.34
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.6
$70.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$17.9
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.9
$0.91
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.11
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$3.61
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$4.52
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.57
$4.83
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.51
$13.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$12.3
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.9
$17.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$5.09
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$1.86
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$4.5
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.93
$4.76
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.02
$2.87
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.01
$2.94
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$1.52
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$2.75
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.93
$14.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.7
$2.43
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.91
$11
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.5
$10.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.92
$6.64
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.57
$4.55
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.45
$2.22
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$24.1
$52
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$14.5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.8
$123
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.06
$22.1
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.2
$55.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$62.7
$93.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$108
$1517
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3833
$21058

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
$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 the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4207
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3378
3.9M
Chicago
$2822
2.75M
Houston
$2265
2.3M
San Diego
$3507
1.39M
Philadelphia
$2597
1.6M
Phoenix
$2357
1.61M
San Francisco
$4040
874K
Dallas
$2461
1.3M
San Antonio
$2063
1.43M
San Jose
$3962
1.01M
Seattle
$3154
737K
Austin
$2444
962K
Boston
$3638
676K
Washington
$3306
690K
Hempstead
$2697
793K
Fort Worth
$2219
919K
Charlotte
$2403
875K
Indianapolis
$2374
888K
Jacksonville
$2224
950K
Columbus
$2127
906K
Denver
$2791
716K
Portland
$2738
653K
Nashville
$2477
689K
Atlanta
$2617
499K
Oklahoma City
$1922
681K
Las Vegas
$2407
642K
Baltimore
$2234
586K
Sacramento
$2846
525K
Oakland
$3212
441K