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

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,217 per month in Canada vs $107 in North Korea, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,254 per month in Canada vs $170 in North Korea, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,291 per month in Canada vs $232 in North Korea, rent included.

The cost of living in Canada is about 1972% higher than in North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 61% above the global median, while North Korea is 92% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 CA$25.35

$2.96 $2.96

517.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$98.8

$23.59 $23.59

201.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.20

$19.83 $19.83

-44.73%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.47

$1.19 $1.19

231.93%

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

$2.07 CA$2.88

$2.31 $2.31

-10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.42

$1.32 $1.32

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.23

$14.19 $14.19

-58.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 CA$7.89

$3.59 $3.59

58.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$0.91 $0.91

145.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.50 $2.50

8.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.16

$1.68 $1.68

121.43%

Eggs

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.00 $3.00

20.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 CA$14.99

$5.10 $5.10

111.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 CA$16.95

$4.18 $4.18

192.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 CA$21.75

$5.92 $5.92

164.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.89

$6.28 $6.28

-32.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$5.24 $5.24

-72.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.57

$2.34 $2.34

71.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.67

$2.38 $2.38

71.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.72

$4.65 $4.65

-42.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CA$3.40

$4.55 $4.55

-46.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$2.38 $2.38

12.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.50

$0.44 $0.44

309.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.05

$4.67 $4.67

209.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 CA$18.84

$7.93 $7.93

71.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$1.19 $1.19

138.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$2.29 $2.29

42.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 CA$3.41

$1.07 $1.07

129.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 CA$104

$39.93 $39.93

88.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 CA$4.37

$1.53 $1.53

105.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$2.26 $2.26

-31.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.55 CA$38.21

$41.44 $41.44

-33.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$0.73 $0.73

58.90%

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

$28.4K CA$39.3K

$23.6K $23.6K

20.17%

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

$19.5K CA$27.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-33.81%

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

$155 CA$215

$34.90 $34.90

343.84%

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

$43.47 CA$60.3

$11.69 $11.69

271.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$83.8

$45.69 $45.69

32.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 CA$57.1

$61.6 $61.6

-33.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.79 CA$27.45

$14.88 $14.88

33.00%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 CA$15.98

$7.93 $7.93

45.40%

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

$786 CA$1,089

$113 $113

598.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K CA$20.6K

$2,171 $2,171

582.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 CA$76.3

$23.32 $23.32

135.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.25 CA$57.2

$29.00 $29.00

42.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 CA$122

$63.1 $63.1

39.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$147

$85.9 $85.9

23.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 CA$1,797

$101 $101

1183.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 CA$1,619

$108 $108

977.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,835

$1,501 $1,501

36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,779 CA$2,467

$214 $214

729.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,786 CA$6,638

$1,758 $1,758

172.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,973 CA$5,510

$1,437 $1,437

176.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,078 CA$4,270

$244 $244

1160.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.86

7.11

-31.65%

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

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Last update for North Korea: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,228 in Canada vs $17.00 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,496 in Ottawa and $94.0 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $2,981 in Canada vs $232 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 7124% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 1000% more in Canada.

Public transport is 1400% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 1185% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in North Korea.

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

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

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 536% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 536% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in Canada 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.