Pyongyang vs Seoul - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Pyongyang Seoul
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1659
$1383
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3633
$3421
🏠 One person rent
$946
$635
🏘️ Family rent
$1645
$1111
🍽️ Food expenses
$492
$484
🚐 Transport expenses
$168
$152
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$138
$1954
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
15 km
18 km
🎓 Higher education
19
100
😀 Quality of life
23
93
🏙️ Population
2.86M
9.67M

The cost of living in Pyongyang is 20% more expensive than in Seoul. Cities ranked 3285th and 4296th ($1659 vs $1383) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 1st and 2nd in North Korea and South Korea, respectively. Check North Korea vs South Korea comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.1 months in Pyongyang compared to 1.4 months in Seoul. Pyongyang ranked 1st best city to live in North Korea vs Seoul ranked 2nd in South Korea, while ranked 9031st and 90th among best cities to live in the world.

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the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Pyongyang vs Seoul infographic

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Prices in Pyongyang vs Seoul

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

Pyongyang Seoul
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.36
$7.28
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$43.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5
$5.99
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.93
$3.46
 Cappuccino
$1.93
$3.69
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.51
$1.66
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$881
$764
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$793
$460
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1575
$1372
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1439
$841
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$80.8
$97.1
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$147
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$54.5
$16.8
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
12.74%
3.97%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1667
$20727
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$992
$10845
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.35
$1.04
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.2
$44.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19.1
$9.78
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.88
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.51
$2.01
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.64
$2.68
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$2.55
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.52
$3.27
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.4
$14.9
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.9
$9.59
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.87
$33
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.11
$7.35
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$3.34
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.59
$5.41
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.98
$5.24
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$3.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.99
$2.95
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.32
$0.8
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.18
$1.8
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$7.01
$17.6
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$1.97
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.78
$3.12
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.08
$3.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$2.86
$3.98
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.48
$3.5
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.38
$1.3
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$25
$47.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.33
$10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.8
$62.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$3.97
$16.7
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.2
$49.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63.8
$67.5
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$98.7
$357
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3611
$21347

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
$1565
46 km or 29 mi Sunchon
$1573
59 km or 36 mi Sariwon
$1560
65 km or 41 mi Anju
$1563
76 km or 47 mi Kaechon
$1569
77 km or 48 mi Chongju
$1553
95 km or 59 mi Tokchon
$1555
111 km or 69 mi Haeju
$1565
115 km or 71 mi Kusong
$1544
135 km or 84 mi Huichon
$1544
138 km or 86 mi Kaesong
$1568
149 km or 92 mi Wonsan
$1569
163 km or 102 mi Paju
$1065
165 km or 102 mi Sinuiju
$1564
165 km or 103 mi Donggang
$537
167 km or 104 mi Dandong
$550
170 km or 106 mi Dongducheon
$1023
178 km or 111 mi Gimpo
$1098
180 km or 112 mi Yangju
$948
180 km or 112 mi Pocheon
$1028
181 km or 112 mi Goyang
$1097
183 km or 113 mi Uijeongbu
$918
184 km or 114 mi Hamhung
$1607
192 km or 119 mi Incheon
$1088
193 km or 120 mi Bucheon
$1175
195 km or 121 mi Seoul
$1383
199 km or 124 mi Gwangmyeong
$1090
202 km or 125 mi Guri
$1134
202 km or 125 mi Namyangju
$1138
209 km or 130 mi Gwacheon
$1078
210 km or 130 mi Anyang
$1004
210 km or 131 mi Hanam
$1178
212 km or 132 mi Ansan
$1049
213 km or 132 mi Fengcheng
$517
213 km or 133 mi Gunpo
$1112
215 km or 134 mi Seongnam
$1435
216 km or 134 mi Uiwang
$1080
216 km or 134 mi Siheung
$1307
217 km or 135 mi Chuncheon
$874

Cities near Seoul

Distance City Cost of living
13 km or 7.9 mi Guri
$1134
17 km or 10 mi Goyang
$1097
17 km or 10 mi Gwangmyeong
$1090
17 km or 11 mi Gwacheon
$1078
19 km or 12 mi Uijeongbu
$918
20 km or 12 mi Hanam
$1178
20 km or 12 mi Namyangju
$1138
20 km or 13 mi Seongnam
$1435
21 km or 13 mi Siheung
$1307
21 km or 13 mi Bucheon
$1175
22 km or 14 mi Anyang
$1004
23 km or 14 mi Yangju
$948
24 km or 15 mi Gunpo
$1112
26 km or 16 mi Gimpo
$1098
27 km or 17 mi Uiwang
$1080
30 km or 19 mi Gwangju
$1196
32 km or 20 mi Paju
$1065
33 km or 20 mi Ansan
$1049
33 km or 21 mi Suwon
$1066
34 km or 21 mi Incheon
$1088
37 km or 23 mi Dongducheon
$1023
39 km or 24 mi Pocheon
$1028
42 km or 26 mi Yongin
$1120
47 km or 29 mi Hwaseong
$1098
49 km or 31 mi Osan
$1076
52 km or 32 mi Icheon
$1171
58 km or 36 mi Kaesong
$1568
65 km or 40 mi Yeoju
$1079
66 km or 41 mi Pyeongtaek
$1141
69 km or 43 mi Anseong
$1078
72 km or 45 mi Chuncheon
$874
83 km or 52 mi Dangjin
$1059
86 km or 53 mi Wonju
$1110
87 km or 54 mi Cheonan
$1153
101 km or 63 mi Seosan
$1068
107 km or 66 mi Chungju
$920
114 km or 71 mi Cheongju
$924
118 km or 73 mi Jecheon
$1037
123 km or 77 mi Haeju
$1565
124 km or 77 mi Sejong
$1020