Pyongyang vs Ulaanbaatar - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Pyongyang Ulaanbaatar
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1663
$792
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$4105
$2074
🏠 One person rent
$953
$380
🏘️ Family rent
$2124
$826
🍽️ Food expenses
$491
$292
🚐 Transport expenses
$167
$43.3
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$396
$365
😷 Air quality
Moderate
Moderate
✈️ Airport proximity
15 km
14 km
🎓 Higher education
19
43
😀 Quality of life
20
55
🏙️ Population
2.86M
1.4M

The cost of living in Pyongyang is 110% more expensive than in Ulaanbaatar. Cities ranked 2803rd and 6405th ($1663 vs $792) in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and ranked 1st and 1st in North Korea and Mongolia, respectively. Check North Korea vs Mongolia comparison.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.2 months in Pyongyang compared to 0.5 months in Ulaanbaatar. Pyongyang ranked 1st best city to live in North Korea vs Ulaanbaatar ranked 1st in Mongolia, while ranked 8973rd and 5931st among best cities to live in the world.

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Cost of living in Pyongyang vs Ulaanbaatar infographic

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Prices in Pyongyang vs Ulaanbaatar

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

Pyongyang Ulaanbaatar
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.35
$4.71
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$111
$29
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.95
$4.34
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.85
$1.74
 Cappuccino
$1.84
$2.38
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.52
$0.77
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$894
$430
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$797
$290
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$3221
$1038
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1625
$664
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$81.3
$49.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$125
$75.7
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$55.3
$12.3
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.3%
6.58%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1626
$1426
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$893
$885
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.35
$0.14
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.9
$7.97
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$19
$5.25
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.89
$0.98
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.49
$1.29
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.65
$0.76
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.61
$1.63
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.56
$1.96
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.45
$13.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$17.8
$4.3
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.31
$5.46
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.11
$3.31
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.11
$2.68
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$3.67
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.97
$3.43
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$0.58
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.9
$1.06
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.31
$0.4
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.15
$1.4
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$7.01
$8.67
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.69
$1.02
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.76
$1.73
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.43
$10.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$3.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.53
$2.64
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$4.41
$1.93
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$22.2
$63.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.25
$4.33
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$16.5
$20.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$4.45
$5.62
👖 Brand Jeans
$28.4
$53.8
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.5
$80.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$107
$150
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3421
$5952

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 Ulaanbaatar

Distance City Cost of living
268 km or 167 mi Bulgan
$759
437 km or 272 mi Ulan-Ude
$576
520 km or 323 mi Irkutsk
$607
559 km or 347 mi Angarsk
$589
656 km or 408 mi Chita
$491
794 km or 493 mi Manzhouli
$674
798 km or 496 mi Bayannur
$997
835 km or 519 mi Xilinhot
$679
840 km or 522 mi Baotou
$673
875 km or 544 mi Hohhot
$563
914 km or 568 mi Ulanqab
$640
917 km or 570 mi Wuhai
$1345
934 km or 581 mi Ordos
$674
954 km or 593 mi Hulunbuir
$677
969 km or 602 mi Fengzhen
$640
985 km or 612 mi Bratsk
$444
992 km or 616 mi Shizuishan
$776
1008 km or 626 mi Datong
$707
1012 km or 629 mi Zhangjiakou
$658
1025 km or 637 mi Yakeshi
$647
1028 km or 639 mi Huairen
$643
1050 km or 652 mi Shenmu
$614
1051 km or 653 mi Yinchuan
$535
1051 km or 653 mi Shuozhou
$625
1094 km or 680 mi Lingwu
$573
1103 km or 685 mi Qingtongxia
$578
1106 km or 687 mi Wuzhong
$603
1113 km or 692 mi Jinchang
$593
1124 km or 698 mi Yuanping
$572
1126 km or 700 mi Zhangye
$504
1131 km or 703 mi Chifeng
$602
1131 km or 703 mi Jiuquan
$510
1156 km or 718 mi Xinzhou
$576
1164 km or 723 mi Wuwei
$581
1165 km or 724 mi Chengde
$700
1166 km or 724 mi Ulanhot
$560
1166 km or 724 mi Zhongwei
$628
1169 km or 726 mi Beijing
$1065
1169 km or 727 mi Yumen
$666
1176 km or 731 mi Zalantun
$625