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 24.5% cheaper than North Korea without rent, and 3.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: China is 21.6% cheaper than North Korea without rent, and 2.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 ¥19.51

$2.94 $2.94

-2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.89 ¥163

$23.75 $23.75

0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ¥32.61

$12.98 $12.98

-63.25%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ¥21.02

$1.13 $1.13

172.57%

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

$0.44 ¥2.99

$2.22 $2.22

-80.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.84

$1.15 $1.15

-76.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ¥6.36

$13.71 $13.71

-93.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ¥13.96

$2.94 $2.94

-30.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 ¥12.16

$0.95 $0.95

87.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥10.94

$2.08 $2.08

-23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ¥6.70

$1.67 $1.67

-41.32%

Eggs

$1.55 ¥10.60

$2.43 $2.43

-36.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 ¥90.3

$4.61 $4.61

186.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ¥23.13

$2.28 $2.28

48.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 ¥71.9

$5.83 $5.83

80.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.59

$7.10 $7.10

-74.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.89

$4.56 $4.56

-71.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.03

$2.25 $2.25

-34.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ¥7.83

$2.27 $2.27

-49.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.94

$3.55 $3.55

-79.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.40

$3.41 $3.41

-72.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ¥4.16

$2.32 $2.32

-73.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.61

$0.44 $0.44

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ¥24.15

$4.76 $4.76

-25.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$8.06 $8.06

47.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.39

$1.18 $1.18

-33.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ¥11.51

$2.26 $2.26

-25.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$1.07 $1.07

-58.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.98 ¥143

$39.80 $39.80

-47.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ¥9.39

$1.58 $1.58

-12.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.40

$2.02 $2.02

-82.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥46.13

$41.02 $41.02

-83.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.93

$0.73 $0.73

58.90%

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

$19.7K ¥134.8K

$23.0K $23.0K

-14.24%

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

$16.9K ¥115.8K

$29.4K $29.4K

-42.42%

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

$50.3 ¥344

$34.58 $34.58

45.46%

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

$10.04 ¥68.5

$11.40 $11.40

-11.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.39 ¥77.8

$46.95 $46.95

-75.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.16 ¥274

$43.63 $43.63

-7.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.68 ¥100

$14.92 $14.92

-1.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 ¥42.39

$7.95 $7.95

-21.89%

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

$402 ¥2,746

$109 $109

269.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ¥119.1K

$2,181 $2,181

699.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 ¥317

$23.19 $23.19

100.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.60 ¥223

$28.72 $28.72

13.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 ¥487

$63.9 $63.9

11.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 ¥511

$85.9 $85.9

-12.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 ¥2,931

$99.1 $99.1

332.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ¥1,783

$109 $109

140.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ¥6,253

$1,491 $1,491

-38.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 ¥3,725

$216 $216

152.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,127 ¥35.0K

$1,755 $1,755

192.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 ¥17.9K

$1,462 $1,462

78.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,061 ¥7,244

$241 $241

339.33%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for North Korea: April 12, 2026

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

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

China

North Korea

China

North Korea

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

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