Pyongyang vs San Francisco - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Pyongyang San Francisco
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1675
$3905
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$4114
$8537
🏠 One person rent
$959
$2719
🏘️ Family rent
$2118
$4421
🍽️ Food expenses
$496
$804
🚐 Transport expenses
$168
$177
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$411
$7528
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Excellent
✈️ Airport proximity
15 km
18 km
🎓 Higher education
19
97
😀 Quality of life
20
96
🏙️ Population
2.86M
874K

The cost of living in Pyongyang is 57% less expensive than in San Francisco. Cities ranked 2779th and 7th ($1675 vs $3905) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 1st and 5th in North Korea and the United States, respectively. Check North Korea vs the United States comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.2 months in Pyongyang compared to 1.9 months in San Francisco. Pyongyang ranked 1st best city to live in North Korea vs San Francisco ranked 1st in the United States, while ranked 8868th and 16th among best cities to live in the world.

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Cost of living in Pyongyang vs San Francisco infographic

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Prices in Pyongyang vs San Francisco

Prices for goods and services in Pyongyang and San Francisco are partly crowdsourced by our visitors, just like yourself. Please consider telling us about your city.

Pyongyang San Francisco
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.46
$22.3
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$112
$102
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.05
$11.9
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.87
$8.59
☕ Cappuccino
$1.89
$5.83
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.51
$3.07
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$892
$2797
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$805
$2467
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3191
$4615
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1625
$4053
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.2
$128
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$198
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.5
$57.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.14%
6.52%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1656
$11255
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$984
$10091
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.38
$2.71
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.4
$92.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19
$20.5
⛽ Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.52
$1.7
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.62
$4.48
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.61
$5.7
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.54
$6.5
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.54
$24.9
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$18.1
$14.4
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.86
$22.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.15
$6.33
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.16
$3.03
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.49
$5.48
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.95
$6.96
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.95
$3.47
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.97
$3.28
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.32
$1.82
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.15
$3.61
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.94
$19.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.71
$3.32
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.82
$14
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.34
$10.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.9
$7.95
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.52
$5.91
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.43
$2.92
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$24.2
$87.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.24
$17.5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16
$148
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.35
$26.2
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.4
$64.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63
$109
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$103
$2824
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3399
$20590

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Cities near Pyongyang

Distance City Cost of living
27 km or 17 mi Pyongsong
$1548
44 km or 27 mi Nampo
$1570
46 km or 29 mi Sunchon
$1574
59 km or 36 mi Sariwon
$1561
65 km or 41 mi Anju
$1554
76 km or 47 mi Kaechon
$1565
77 km or 48 mi Chongju
$1547
95 km or 59 mi Tokchon
$1546
111 km or 69 mi Haeju
$1550
115 km or 71 mi Kusong
$1549
135 km or 84 mi Huichon
$1538
138 km or 86 mi Kaesong
$1565
149 km or 92 mi Wonsan
$1568
163 km or 102 mi Paju
$1075
165 km or 102 mi Sinuiju
$1572
165 km or 103 mi Donggang
$505
167 km or 104 mi Dandong
$503
170 km or 106 mi Dongducheon
$1055
178 km or 111 mi Gimpo
$1099
180 km or 112 mi Yangju
$974
180 km or 112 mi Pocheon
$1040
181 km or 112 mi Goyang
$1171
183 km or 113 mi Uijeongbu
$955
184 km or 114 mi Hamhung
$1597
192 km or 119 mi Incheon
$1092
193 km or 120 mi Bucheon
$1163
195 km or 121 mi Seoul
$1334
199 km or 124 mi Gwangmyeong
$1089
202 km or 125 mi Guri
$1122
202 km or 125 mi Namyangju
$1129
209 km or 130 mi Gwacheon
$1070
210 km or 130 mi Anyang
$1022
210 km or 131 mi Hanam
$1161
212 km or 132 mi Ansan
$1070
213 km or 132 mi Fengcheng
$492
213 km or 133 mi Gunpo
$1098
215 km or 134 mi Seongnam
$1400
216 km or 134 mi Uiwang
$1063
216 km or 134 mi Siheung
$1283
217 km or 135 mi Chuncheon
$865

Cities near San Francisco

Distance City Cost of living
11 km or 6.9 mi Daly
$3190
14 km or 8.4 mi South San Francisco
$3185
14 km or 8.8 mi Alameda
$3364
15 km or 9.2 mi Oakland
$2968
16 km or 10 mi Albany
$2888
17 km or 10 mi Berkeley
$2974
17 km or 11 mi San Bruno
$3195
18 km or 11 mi El Cerrito
$2929
18 km or 11 mi Pacifica
$3183
19 km or 12 mi Richmond
$3004
20 km or 12 mi Millbrae
$3226
21 km or 13 mi San Pablo
$2999
22 km or 14 mi Burlingame
$3269
24 km or 15 mi San Leandro
$2963
24 km or 15 mi San Rafael
$3997
26 km or 16 mi San Mateo
$3678
28 km or 17 mi San Lorenzo
$2747
28 km or 18 mi Foster
$3466
29 km or 18 mi Lafayette
$2888
29 km or 18 mi Hercules
$2840
31 km or 19 mi Belmont
$3657
32 km or 20 mi Hayward
$2811
32 km or 20 mi Castro Valley
$3041
34 km or 21 mi San Carlos
$3344
34 km or 21 mi Walnut Creek
$2932
36 km or 23 mi Redwood
$3649
37 km or 23 mi Martinez
$2780
37 km or 23 mi Danville
$3785
37 km or 23 mi Pleasant Hill
$2816
38 km or 24 mi Union
$3002
39 km or 24 mi San Ramon
$3045
39 km or 24 mi Vallejo
$2412
39 km or 24 mi Novato
$3115
39 km or 24 mi Benicia
$2767
41 km or 25 mi Concord
$2778
42 km or 26 mi Menlo Park
$3326
42 km or 26 mi East Palo Alto
$3286
43 km or 27 mi Newark
$3060
45 km or 28 mi Dublin
$3059
46 km or 28 mi Palo Alto
$3752