Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and North Korea Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $88.0 in North Korea, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $141 in North Korea, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $193 in North Korea, rent included.

Australia costs about 2382% more than North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while North Korea is 93% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 A$22.57

$2.96 $2.96

448.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 A$107

$23.58 $23.58

226.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 A$13.64

$12.69 $12.69

-22.70%

Cappuccino

$3.58 A$4.97

$1.14 $1.14

214.04%

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

$2.57 A$3.57

$2.34 $2.34

9.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 A$3.03

$1.15 $1.15

89.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 A$9.22

$13.79 $13.79

-51.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 A$9.90

$2.93 $2.93

143.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 A$2.09

$1.01 $1.01

48.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 A$3.51

$2.10 $2.10

20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 A$2.88

$1.66 $1.66

24.70%

Eggs

$4.29 A$5.96

$2.40 $2.40

78.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 A$12.02

$4.50 $4.50

92.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.60

$2.34 $2.34

256.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 A$19.33

$5.95 $5.95

133.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.58

$7.07 $7.07

-53.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.85

$4.71 $4.71

-41.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 A$4.10

$2.33 $2.33

26.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 A$5.83

$2.38 $2.38

76.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 A$3.36

$3.56 $3.56

-32.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 A$2.92

$3.38 $3.38

-37.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 A$3.14

$2.27 $2.27

-0.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 A$2.09

$0.45 $0.45

233.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.58 A$43.90

$4.52 $4.52

598.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.29 A$19.86

$8.43 $8.43

69.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.59 A$6.38

$1.18 $1.18

288.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 A$6.70

$2.33 $2.33

106.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 A$4.19

$1.06 $1.06

184.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 A$137

$40.26 $40.26

144.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 A$4.84

$1.55 $1.55

124.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 A$2.43

$2.03 $2.03

-13.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.97 A$52.8

$42.42 $42.42

-10.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 A$1.68

$0.72 $0.72

68.06%

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

$29.0K A$40.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

23.30%

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

$22.6K A$31.4K

$29.1K $29.1K

-22.56%

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

$177 A$247

$35.38 $35.38

401.27%

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

$26.85 A$37.32

$11.78 $11.78

127.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 A$72.9

$46.15 $46.15

13.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.57 A$66.1

$43.84 $43.84

8.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.46 A$22.88

$15.03 $15.03

9.51%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 A$19.09

$8.33 $8.33

64.83%

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

$1,593 A$2,215

$111 $111

1339.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K A$17.7K

$2,189 $2,189

480.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 A$100

$22.74 $22.74

216.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 A$71.3

$28.99 $28.99

76.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 A$143

$63.5 $63.5

62.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 A$151

$86.0 $86.0

26.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 A$1,947

$98.4 $98.4

1323.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 A$1,501

$108 $108

901.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,340 A$3,253

$1,473 $1,473

58.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,756 A$2,441

$213 $213

726.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,733 A$10.7K

$1,795 $1,795

330.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,563 A$7,733

$1,454 $1,454

282.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,000 A$5,560

$239 $239

1571.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

7.11

-10.69%

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

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Last update for North Korea: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $17.00 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $91.0 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $240 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 7147% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 1825% more in Australia.

Public transport is 1575% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1516% higher in Australia, giving North Korea stronger purchasing power.

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

Australia vs North Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 508% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 508% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

North Korea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.