North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1596
$2522
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3476
$5757
🏠 One person rent
$941
$1593
🏘️ Family rent
$1634
$2642
🍽️ Food expenses
$497
$656
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$103
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$142
$4550
💸 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%
95.9%
🎓 Higher education
17
100
😀 Quality of life
10
88
🏙️ Population
26.5M
340M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1596) is 37% less expensive than in the United States ($2522). North Korea ranked 36th vs 9th 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 190th and 22nd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Share this picture

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
$8.5
$19.8
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$77
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.03
$11.7
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.84
$6.39
 Cappuccino
$1.93
$5.44
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.54
$2.76
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$864
$1682
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$790
$1337
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3092
$2997
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1564
$2414
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$80.8
$130
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$200
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.8
$68.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.65%
6.16%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1437
$4871
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$818
$3394
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.31
$2.34
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.8
$71.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$18
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.02
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.53
$1.11
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$3.58
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$4.47
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.57
$4.73
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.51
$13.2
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$12.3
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.88
$17.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.14
$5.06
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.18
$1.82
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.59
$4.57
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$4.83
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.03
$2.88
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.96
$2.97
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$1.52
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$2.75
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.96
$15
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.7
$2.45
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.17
$11.1
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.48
$10.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.86
$6.66
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.52
$4.59
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.43
$2.24
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.3
$52.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.14
$14.7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.9
$127
💇 Haircut, simple
$3.82
$22.1
👖 Brand Jeans
$28
$55.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.7
$94.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$122
$1520
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4247
$20019

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
$1669
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1600
668K
Sunchon
$1579
437K
Nampo
$1572
367K
Wonsan
$1570
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1557
308K
Sariwon
$1569
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1556
252K
Anju
$1559
240K
Pyongsong
$1560
237K
Tokchon
$1563
237K
Kimchaek
$1548
207K
Kusong
$1550
197K
Rason
$1485
197K
Hyesan
$1547
193K
Chongju
$1544
190K
Huichon
$1547
168K
Hoeryong
$1477
154K
Sinpo
$1535
153K

In the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4202
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3420
3.9M
Chicago
$2851
2.75M
Houston
$2261
2.3M
San Diego
$3486
1.39M
Philadelphia
$2597
1.6M
San Francisco
$4110
874K
Phoenix
$2423
1.61M
Dallas
$2472
1.3M
San Jose
$3957
1.01M
San Antonio
$2071
1.43M
Washington
$3350
690K
Seattle
$3183
737K
Austin
$2475
962K
Boston
$3680
676K
Fort Worth
$2259
919K
Hempstead
$2710
793K
Indianapolis
$2405
888K
Charlotte
$2470
875K
Jacksonville
$2192
950K
Columbus
$2140
906K
Denver
$2848
716K
Portland
$2785
653K
Nashville
$2451
689K
Atlanta
$2628
499K
Oklahoma City
$1931
681K
Baltimore
$2224
586K
Las Vegas
$2294
642K
Sacramento
$2682
525K
Memphis
$1917
633K