Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Pyongyang

For one person, living is cheaper in Pyongyang: $426 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $27,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
12

Cost of Living Index in Pyongyang
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Pyongyang Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Pyongyang

🇰🇵 North Korea

$426

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Pyongyang

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Pyongyang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $426 in Pyongyang.

Austin, TX $2,704
Pyongyang $426

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $696 in Pyongyang.

Austin, TX $4,133
Pyongyang $696

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $965 in Pyongyang.

Austin, TX $5,562
Pyongyang $965

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 535% more expensive than in Pyongyang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Pyongyang is 68% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$4.93 $4.93

310.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$36.47 $36.47

133.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$21.96 $21.96

-43.76%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$1.13 $1.13

384.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.19 $2.19

74.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.28 $1.28

95.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$13.69 $13.69

-41.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

$4.83 $4.83

86.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.92 $0.92

22.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.37 $2.37

59.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$0.91 $0.91

257.14%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$2.08 $2.08

99.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K $35.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K $27.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$219 $219

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.0 $58.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

$75.9 $75.9

-23.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,509 $1,509

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$91.0 $91.0

2024.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$89.7 $89.7

1318.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$135 $135

1772.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$250 $250

1937.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Pyongyang: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Pyongyang

$90 21.3% 92.9% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Pyongyang

$45 * 10.7% 88.9% $358

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Pyongyang

$211 50% 39.4% $137

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Pyongyang

- * 0% 100%

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Pyongyang

- * 0% 100%

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Pyongyang

$76 * 18% 11.9% $10

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Pyongyang

- * 0% 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $91.0 in Pyongyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1938% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $36.00 in Pyongyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $45.00 per month, with Pyongyang cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇰🇵 Pyongyang

🕒 Local time

01:16 1:16 AM

15:16 3:16 PM

14 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

3,255,288 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Pyongyang 11,090 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Pyongyang

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Pyongyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pyongyang wins on cost – living expenses run 535% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pyongyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1938% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $91.0 in Pyongyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $426 in Pyongyang – a 535% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 797% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $426 in Pyongyang versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyongyang but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Pyongyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Pyongyang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pyongyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 535% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.