North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1595
$2498
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3883
$5861
🏠 One person rent
$940
$1595
🏘️ Family rent
$2056
$2818
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$638
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$100
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$401
$4485
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$82769
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.64
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
77.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
65
🌐 English speaking %
0%
95.3%
🎓 Higher education
18
100
😀 Quality of life
10
86
🏙️ Population
26.4M
340M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1595) is 36% less expensive than in the United States ($2498). North Korea ranked 25th 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 0.3 months in North Korea compared to 1.8 months in the United States. Ranked 190th 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
$8.47
$19.4
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$77.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.03
$11
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.8
$6.27
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$5.22
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$2.59
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$866
$1640
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$788
$1347
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3091
$2923
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1573
$2471
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$124
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$190
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.7
$66.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.05%
6.52%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1542
$4583
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$936
$3784
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$2.35
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$68.9
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.2
$18
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.96
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.1
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.62
$3.59
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$4.49
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$4.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.5
$13.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18.1
$11.9
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.84
$16.4
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.12
$5.15
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$1.78
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$4.54
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$4.63
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$2.84
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.98
$2.86
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$1.48
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$2.64
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.94
$14.6
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$2.21
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.85
$10.6
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.57
$9.47
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.89
$5.83
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$4.44
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$2.13
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.5
$48.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$14.2
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.1
$125
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.07
$21.2
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.5
$53.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$62.1
$90
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$101
$1451
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3222
$21164

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
$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 the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4441
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3196
3.9M
Chicago
$2678
2.75M
Houston
$2265
2.3M
San Diego
$3428
1.39M
Phoenix
$2395
1.61M
Philadelphia
$2597
1.6M
San Francisco
$3905
874K
Dallas
$2471
1.3M
San Jose
$3810
1.01M
San Antonio
$2033
1.43M
Austin
$2455
962K
Seattle
$3015
737K
Indianapolis
$2189
888K
Washington
$3149
690K
Fort Worth
$2289
919K
Hempstead
$2664
793K
Charlotte
$2528
875K
Boston
$3547
676K
Jacksonville
$2364
950K
Denver
$2717
716K
Columbus
$2145
906K
Portland
$2629
653K
Nashville
$2508
689K
Atlanta
$2570
499K
Las Vegas
$2271
642K
Oklahoma City
$1832
681K
Baltimore
$2287
586K
Oakland
$2968
441K
Sacramento
$2813
525K