Pyongyang vs Tokyo - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Pyongyang Tokyo
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1663
$1556
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$4105
$4005
🏠 One person rent
$953
$760
🏘️ Family rent
$2124
$1537
🍽️ Food expenses
$491
$426
🚐 Transport expenses
$167
$269
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$396
$2885
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Excellent
✈️ Airport proximity
15 km
15 km
🎓 Higher education
19
100
😀 Quality of life
20
100
🏙️ Population
2.86M
14M

The cost of living in Pyongyang is 7% more expensive than in Tokyo. Cities ranked 2803rd and 3238th ($1663 vs $1556) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 1st and 3rd in North Korea and Japan, respectively. Check North Korea vs Japan comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.2 months in Pyongyang compared to 1.9 months in Tokyo. Pyongyang ranked 1st best city to live in North Korea vs Tokyo ranked 1st in Japan, while ranked 8973rd and 1st among best cities to live in the world.

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Cost of living in Pyongyang vs Tokyo infographic

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Prices in Pyongyang vs Tokyo

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

Pyongyang Tokyo
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.35
$6.15
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$41.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.95
$5.09
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.85
$2.91
☕ Cappuccino
$1.84
$3.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$1.13
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$894
$936
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$797
$540
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3221
$2411
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1625
$1067
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.3
$109
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$170
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.3
$31.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.3%
1.67%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1626
$7633
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$893
$4193
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.35
$1.34
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.9
$53.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19
$26.6
⛽ Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$1.14
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.49
$1.49
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.65
$1.71
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.61
$2.67
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$2.19
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$15.6
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.8
$7.03
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.31
$18.6
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.11
$5.39
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.11
$2.48
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$5.89
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.97
$4.81
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$3.25
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.9
$2.76
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.31
$0.59
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.15
$1.34
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$7.01
$7.08
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$2.04
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.76
$3.94
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.43
$13.9
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$3.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$1.34
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.41
$1.45
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$22.2
$55.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.25
$12.6
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.5
$27.7
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.45
$17.6
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.4
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.5
$61.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$107
$508
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3421
$15051

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 Tokyo

Distance City Cost of living
12 km or 7.3 mi Musashino
$1105
12 km or 7.4 mi Komae
$1099
12 km or 7.5 mi Mitaka
$1117
13 km or 8 mi Wako
$1052
13 km or 8.4 mi Kawaguchi
$1052
14 km or 8.5 mi Hirai
$1051
14 km or 8.9 mi Toda
$988
14 km or 8.9 mi Chofu
$1115
14 km or 9 mi Nishitokyo
$1101
15 km or 9.3 mi Asaka
$1041
15 km or 9.4 mi Warabi
$973
16 km or 10 mi Niiza
$1053
17 km or 10 mi Higashikurume
$1066
17 km or 11 mi Koganei
$1067
18 km or 11 mi Kawasaki-ku
$1009
18 km or 11 mi Inagi
$1064
18 km or 11 mi Soka
$1071
18 km or 11 mi Kiyose
$1052
19 km or 12 mi Shiki
$1009
19 km or 12 mi Kawasaki
$1101
19 km or 12 mi Urayasu
$1062
20 km or 12 mi Fuchu
$1091
20 km or 12 mi Saitama
$1063
20 km or 12 mi Kodaira
$1078
20 km or 12 mi Yashio
$1045
21 km or 13 mi Kokubunji
$1057
21 km or 13 mi Higashimurayama
$1062
21 km or 13 mi Miyoshi
$1036
22 km or 14 mi Ichikawa
$985
22 km or 14 mi Matsudo
$1143
23 km or 14 mi Misato
$1049
23 km or 14 mi Fujimi
$1031
23 km or 14 mi Kunitachi
$1042
23 km or 14 mi Tama
$1041
24 km or 15 mi Tokorozawa
$1102
24 km or 15 mi Koshigaya
$1133
25 km or 15 mi Tachikawa
$1056
25 km or 15 mi Higashiyamato
$1052
26 km or 16 mi Yoshikawa
$1060
26 km or 16 mi Fujimino
$1063