North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1597
$2454
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3888
$5738
🏠 One person rent
$942
$1565
🏘️ Family rent
$2057
$2755
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$624
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$410
$4635
💸 GDP per capita
$1700
$81695
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.39
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
77.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
17
69
🌐 English speaking %
0%
95.5%
🎓 Higher education
18
100
😀 Quality of life
8
87
🏙️ Population
25.5M
332M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1597) is 35% less expensive than in the United States ($2454). North Korea ranked 29th 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 0.3 months in North Korea compared to 1.9 months in the United States. Ranked 191st and 20th 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
$8.49
$18.7
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$75
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$10.8
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.82
$6.19
 Cappuccino
$1.85
$5.13
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.54
$2.57
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$868
$1641
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$789
$1330
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3099
$2946
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1571
$2414
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$123
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$189
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.6
$66.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.41%
6.53%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1567
$4710
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$874
$3231
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$2.37
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47
$70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.1
$18.4
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.98
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.53
$1.08
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$3.5
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.64
$4.35
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.55
$3.81
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$13
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$11.6
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.74
$15.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$5.03
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$1.76
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$4.51
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.94
$4.74
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.99
$2.81
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1
$2.88
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$1.42
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.16
$2.6
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.93
$14.4
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$2.17
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.81
$10.3
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.48
$9.41
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.93
$6.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.56
$4.4
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.44
$2.13
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$23.3
$51.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.26
$14.1
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$15.3
$122
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.17
$20.2
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.6
$52.8
👟 Brand Sneakers
$64
$89.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$102
$1400
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3385
$20224

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
$1672
2.86M
Hamhung
$1603
769K
Chongjin
$1602
668K
Sunchon
$1576
437K
Nampo
$1574
367K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1568
359K
Tanchon
$1568
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1567
308K
Sariwon
$1564
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1562
252K
Anju
$1550
240K
Tokchon
$1553
237K
Pyongsong
$1555
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Rason
$1488
197K
Kusong
$1547
197K
Hyesan
$1552
193K
Chongju
$1555
190K
Huichon
$1545
168K
Hoeryong
$1479
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K

In the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4051
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3187
3.9M
Chicago
$2667
2.75M
Houston
$2248
2.3M
San Diego
$3346
1.39M
Phoenix
$2369
1.61M
San Jose
$3674
1.01M
Dallas
$2550
1.3M
San Francisco
$3781
874K
Philadelphia
$2541
1.6M
San Antonio
$2194
1.43M
Austin
$2473
962K
Seattle
$2908
737K
Indianapolis
$2187
888K
Hempstead
$2702
793K
Charlotte
$2615
875K
Washington
$3139
690K
Boston
$3467
676K
Fort Worth
$2195
919K
Jacksonville
$2386
950K
Columbus
$2252
906K
Denver
$2699
716K
Nashville
$2649
689K
Portland
$2572
653K
Atlanta
$2540
499K
Las Vegas
$2246
642K
Detroit
$2006
639K
Oakland
$3146
441K
El Paso
$1775
679K
Baltimore
$2223
586K