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

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $88.0 in North Korea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $140 in North Korea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $192 in North Korea.

Living in China is roughly 709% more expensive than in North Korea on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, North Korea 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 ¥19.32

$2.92 $2.92

-2.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.44 ¥158

$23.33 $23.33

0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ¥32.70

$13.10 $13.10

-63.05%

Cappuccino

$3.11 ¥21.03

$1.14 $1.14

172.81%

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

$0.44 ¥2.99

$2.33 $2.33

-81.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.99

$1.13 $1.13

-74.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ¥6.63

$13.71 $13.71

-92.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥13.86

$2.83 $2.83

-27.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ¥12.45

$1.00 $1.00

84.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ¥10.92

$2.16 $2.16

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.27

$1.60 $1.60

-41.88%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.01

$2.39 $2.39

-31.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 ¥88.8

$4.59 $4.59

186.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 ¥22.06

$2.25 $2.25

44.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 ¥71.8

$5.69 $5.69

86.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.17

$6.74 $6.74

-73.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.76

$4.60 $4.60

-71.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.88

$2.35 $2.35

-37.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ¥8.13

$2.35 $2.35

-48.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ¥5.13

$3.39 $3.39

-77.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 ¥5.93

$3.41 $3.41

-74.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ¥3.86

$2.25 $2.25

-74.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.48 $0.48

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ¥23.14

$4.70 $4.70

-27.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.75 ¥79.4

$8.08 $8.08

45.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥5.39

$1.13 $1.13

-29.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ¥10.94

$2.32 $2.32

-30.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.93

$1.02 $1.02

-57.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.47 ¥138

$41.18 $41.18

-50.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.22

$1.53 $1.53

-11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.39

$2.11 $2.11

-83.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 ¥43.90

$42.45 $42.45

-84.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.58

$0.74 $0.74

51.35%

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

$19.5K ¥131.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

-17.46%

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

$16.9K ¥113.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

-42.45%

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

$51.7 ¥349

$34.48 $34.48

49.94%

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

$10.17 ¥68.7

$11.34 $11.34

-10.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.16 ¥75.4

$47.07 $47.07

-76.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.62 ¥268

$43.36 $43.36

-8.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.53 ¥98.2

$14.76 $14.76

-1.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ¥43.12

$7.99 $7.99

-20.15%

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

$407 ¥2,752

$111 $111

268.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K ¥120.5K

$2,153 $2,153

728.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.53 ¥308

$22.90 $22.90

98.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 ¥218

$28.80 $28.80

12.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ¥490

$63.7 $63.7

13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ¥503

$86.7 $86.7

-14.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ¥2,992

$98.1 $98.1

351.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 ¥1,745

$107 $107

141.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,152

$1,478 $1,478

-38.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ¥3,672

$217 $217

150.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,934 ¥33.3K

$1,689 $1,689

192.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,398 ¥16.2K

$1,421 $1,421

68.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,065 ¥7,194

$234 $234

354.56%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for North Korea: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in China, $17.00 in North Korea. Capital cities: $894 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $92.0 in Pyongyang.

National salary averages: $855 in China, $230 in North Korea. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1588% higher in China.

Dining out costs 425% more in China.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 272% higher in China, 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

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

At $862 per month in China and $361 in North Korea, there's a 139% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in North Korea: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in China is consistently higher than in North Korea across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In North Korea, $1,200 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: North Korea wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.