North Korea vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

North Korea United States
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1593
$2516
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3450
$5730
🏠 One person rent
$937
$1598
🏘️ Family rent
$1622
$2655
🍽️ Food expenses
$495
$651
🚐 Transport expenses
$107
$101
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$137
$4539
💸 GDP per capita
$1261
$85810
😃 Human freedom index
1.4
8.64
❤️ Life expectancy
73.6
78.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
15
65
🌐 English speaking %
0%
95.3%
🎓 Higher education
18
100
😀 Quality of life
12
87
🏙️ Population
26.5M
340M

The average cost of living in North Korea ($1593) is 37% less expensive than in the United States ($2516). North Korea ranked 33rd 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 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
$8.45
$19.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$76.5
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.02
$11.5
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.85
$6.31
 Cappuccino
$1.89
$5.34
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.53
$2.65
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$866
$1659
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$785
$1336
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3106
$3048
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1564
$2458
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81
$125
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$193
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.4
$67.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.59%
6.41%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1543
$4491
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$951
$3675
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.36
$2.35
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.2
$69.5
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.3
$18.4
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.92
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.11
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.63
$3.57
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$4.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$4.7
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.46
$13.4
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18
$12.3
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.92
$16.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.12
$5.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$1.85
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.63
$4.48
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$4.77
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3
$2.83
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.01
$2.9
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.33
$1.48
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.17
$2.74
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.96
$14.5
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.68
$2.41
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.84
$10.7
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.39
$10.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.83
$6.66
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.51
$4.53
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.43
$2.2
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$24.4
$52.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.32
$14.5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.2
$124
💇 Haircut, simple
$3.5
$21.6
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.2
$53.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63.8
$92.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$95.1
$1428
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3364
$20562

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
$1659
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1597
668K
Sunchon
$1573
437K
Nampo
$1565
367K
Wonsan
$1569
363K
Sinuiju
$1564
359K
Tanchon
$1570
346K
Kaechon
$1569
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1568
308K
Haeju
$1565
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1563
240K
Tokchon
$1555
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1556
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1483
197K
Hyesan
$1550
193K
Chongju
$1553
190K
Huichon
$1544
168K
Sinpo
$1535
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K

In the United States

City Cost of living Population
New York City
$4203
8.8M
Los Angeles
$3361
3.9M
Chicago
$2799
2.75M
Houston
$2240
2.3M
San Diego
$3469
1.39M
Philadelphia
$2584
1.6M
Phoenix
$2340
1.61M
Dallas
$2447
1.3M
San Francisco
$4110
874K
San Jose
$3952
1.01M
San Antonio
$2023
1.43M
Seattle
$3162
737K
Austin
$2416
962K
Washington
$3328
690K
Boston
$3652
676K
Indianapolis
$2382
888K
Hempstead
$2655
793K
Fort Worth
$2217
919K
Jacksonville
$2222
950K
Charlotte
$2423
875K
Columbus
$2181
906K
Denver
$2775
716K
Portland
$2684
653K
Nashville
$2524
689K
Las Vegas
$2414
642K
Oklahoma City
$1872
681K
Atlanta
$2641
499K
Oakland
$3254
441K
Baltimore
$2323
586K
Sacramento
$2825
525K