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

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 25.9% cheaper than North Korea without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: China is 20.2% cheaper than North Korea without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 ¥19.31

$2.92 $2.92

-5.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ¥169

$23.62 $23.62

2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥33.15

$12.85 $12.85

-63.04%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ¥21.06

$1.14 $1.14

164.91%

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

$0.44 ¥3.06

$2.25 $2.25

-80.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.87

$1.19 $1.19

-77.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ¥6.67

$13.73 $13.73

-93.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ¥14.21

$2.97 $2.97

-31.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥12.21

$0.94 $0.94

86.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 ¥11.79

$2.12 $2.12

-20.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ¥6.85

$1.67 $1.67

-41.32%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥11.19

$2.41 $2.41

-33.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 ¥93.1

$4.59 $4.59

190.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ¥22.82

$2.36 $2.36

38.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.63 ¥74.2

$5.74 $5.74

85.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ¥12.16

$6.86 $6.86

-74.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ¥8.76

$4.67 $4.67

-73.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.13

$2.30 $2.30

-36.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ¥8.28

$2.28 $2.28

-47.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥5.08

$3.57 $3.57

-79.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ¥5.99

$3.55 $3.55

-75.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.30

$2.32 $2.32

-73.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.71

$0.44 $0.44

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ¥24.03

$4.69 $4.69

-26.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 ¥81.2

$8.15 $8.15

42.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.88

$1.14 $1.14

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ¥11.30

$2.36 $2.36

-31.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥3.07

$1.06 $1.06

-58.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.71 ¥145

$40.31 $40.31

-48.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ¥9.91

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.27

$2.10 $2.10

-84.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ¥45.42

$41.18 $41.18

-84.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥8.19

$0.72 $0.72

62.50%

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

$19.2K ¥133.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

-18.32%

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

$16.6K ¥116.1K

$28.4K $28.4K

-41.36%

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

$51.4 ¥359

$34.07 $34.07

50.90%

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

$9.63 ¥67.2

$11.55 $11.55

-16.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 ¥78.3

$45.59 $45.59

-75.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.09 ¥273

$44.05 $44.05

-11.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.70 ¥103

$15.30 $15.30

-3.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ¥42.89

$8.29 $8.29

-25.93%

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

$416 ¥2,905

$110 $110

278.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ¥125.0K

$2,185 $2,185

719.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.24 ¥316

$23.02 $23.02

96.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.59 ¥228

$29.29 $29.29

11.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ¥509

$64.8 $64.8

12.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 ¥508

$85.5 $85.5

-14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ¥3,018

$96.8 $96.8

346.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ¥1,767

$108 $108

134.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$923 ¥6,441

$1,445 $1,445

-36.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$546 ¥3,811

$212 $212

157.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,324 ¥37.2K

$1,772 $1,772

200.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,784 ¥19.4K

$1,423 $1,423

95.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 ¥7,240

$239 $239

333.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

7.11

-42.90%

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

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

Last update for North Korea: January 12, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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