Pyongyang vs San Jose, United States - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Pyongyang San Jose
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1663
$3502
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$4105
$7476
🏠 One person rent
$953
$2428
🏘️ Family rent
$2124
$4021
🍽️ Food expenses
$491
$717
🚐 Transport expenses
$167
$195
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$396
$6928
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Excellent
✈️ Airport proximity
15 km
8 km
🎓 Higher education
19
87
😀 Quality of life
20
92
🏙️ Population
2.86M
1.01M

The cost of living in Pyongyang is 53% less expensive than in San Jose, United States. Cities ranked 2803rd and 22nd ($1663 vs $3502) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 1st and 20th 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 2 months in San Jose, United States. Pyongyang ranked 1st best city to live in North Korea vs San Jose, United States ranked 9th in the United States, while ranked 8973rd and 69th among best cities to live in the world.

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Cost of living in Pyongyang vs San Jose, United States infographic

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Prices in Pyongyang vs San Jose, United States

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

Pyongyang San Jose
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.35
$18.8
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$87.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.95
$12.4
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.85
$7.93
 Cappuccino
$1.84
$5.86
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$3
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$894
$2372
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$797
$2164
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3221
$4451
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1625
$3536
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.3
$137
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$217
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.3
$84.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.3%
6.46%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1626
$13837
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$893
$9980
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.35
$2.75
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.9
$108
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19
$19.5
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.49
$1.39
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.65
$4.46
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.61
$4.86
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$4.92
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$15.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.8
$14.4
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.31
$19.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.11
$5.96
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.11
$2.22
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$4.77
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.97
$6.31
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$3.85
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.9
$3.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.31
$1.69
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.15
$2.4
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$7.01
$17.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$2.17
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.76
$11
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.43
$9.22
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$6.05
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$4.93
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.41
$2.27
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$22.2
$88.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.25
$14.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.5
$101
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.45
$19.2
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.4
$56.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.5
$94
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$107
$1687
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3421
$15889

Cost of living in other countries

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Cost of Living in the nearest cities

Cities near Pyongyang

Distance City Cost of living
27 km or 17 mi Pyongsong
$1550
44 km or 27 mi Nampo
$1571
46 km or 29 mi Sunchon
$1583
59 km or 36 mi Sariwon
$1557
65 km or 41 mi Anju
$1551
76 km or 47 mi Kaechon
$1562
77 km or 48 mi Chongju
$1538
95 km or 59 mi Tokchon
$1558
111 km or 69 mi Haeju
$1560
115 km or 71 mi Kusong
$1544
135 km or 84 mi Huichon
$1546
138 km or 86 mi Kaesong
$1542
149 km or 92 mi Wonsan
$1573
163 km or 102 mi Paju
$1072
165 km or 102 mi Sinuiju
$1574
165 km or 103 mi Donggang
$526
167 km or 104 mi Dandong
$515
170 km or 106 mi Dongducheon
$1077
178 km or 111 mi Gimpo
$1124
180 km or 112 mi Yangju
$983
180 km or 112 mi Pocheon
$1041
181 km or 112 mi Goyang
$1144
183 km or 113 mi Uijeongbu
$986
184 km or 114 mi Hamhung
$1596
192 km or 119 mi Incheon
$1020
193 km or 120 mi Bucheon
$1152
195 km or 121 mi Seoul
$1444
199 km or 124 mi Gwangmyeong
$1087
202 km or 125 mi Guri
$1101
202 km or 125 mi Namyangju
$1106
209 km or 130 mi Gwacheon
$1056
210 km or 130 mi Anyang
$1097
210 km or 131 mi Hanam
$1069
212 km or 132 mi Ansan
$1127
213 km or 132 mi Fengcheng
$513
213 km or 133 mi Gunpo
$1120
215 km or 134 mi Seongnam
$1121
216 km or 134 mi Uiwang
$1054
216 km or 134 mi Siheung
$1081
217 km or 135 mi Chuncheon
$911

Cities near San Jose, United States

Distance City Cost of living
7.6 km or 4.7 mi Campbell
$3272
9.7 km or 6.1 mi Santa Clara
$3301
11 km or 6.8 mi Los Gatos
$4204
13 km or 8.4 mi Saratoga
$3222
15 km or 9.1 mi Milpitas
$3057
15 km or 9.3 mi Cupertino
$2974
16 km or 10 mi Sunnyvale
$3184
18 km or 11 mi Mountain View
$3171
21 km or 13 mi Los Altos
$3064
27 km or 17 mi Palo Alto
$3733
27 km or 17 mi Morgan Hill
$3012
28 km or 18 mi Fremont
$3186
29 km or 18 mi Newark
$3003
29 km or 18 mi East Palo Alto
$3245
32 km or 20 mi Menlo Park
$3313
36 km or 22 mi Union
$2922
38 km or 23 mi Redwood
$3389
39 km or 24 mi Santa Cruz
$3422
41 km or 25 mi San Carlos
$3300
41 km or 25 mi Pleasanton
$3644
42 km or 26 mi Gilroy
$2952
43 km or 27 mi Livermore
$3047
44 km or 27 mi Watsonville
$2908
44 km or 27 mi Belmont
$3567
44 km or 28 mi Foster
$3518
45 km or 28 mi Hayward
$2660
46 km or 28 mi Dublin
$3109
47 km or 29 mi San Lorenzo
$2650
48 km or 30 mi San Mateo
$3583
48 km or 30 mi Castro Valley
$2881
53 km or 33 mi San Leandro
$2969
53 km or 33 mi Burlingame
$3219
54 km or 33 mi San Ramon
$2860
57 km or 36 mi Millbrae
$3163
59 km or 36 mi Danville
$2929
60 km or 38 mi San Bruno
$3147
61 km or 38 mi Alameda
$3358
62 km or 38 mi Tracy
$2141
63 km or 39 mi South San Francisco
$3130
64 km or 40 mi Oakland
$3123