Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $836 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $25,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

144

Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong
Learn more

Hong Kong Living Index
41

Cost of Living Index in North Korea
Learn more

North Korea Living Index

Jump to prices

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

$2,984

/mo nomad

🇰🇵 North Korea

$836

/mo nomad

😐 Solo nomad: Hong Kong is 45.1% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 256.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Hong Kong is 62% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 243.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.46 HK$66.4

$2.75 $2.75

207.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 HK$496

$22.54 $22.54

180.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 HK$48.66

$19.33 $19.33

-67.93%

Cappuccino

$4.90 HK$38.41

$1.09 $1.09

349.54%

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

$1.27 HK$10.01

$2.25 $2.25

-43.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 HK$8.31

$1.28 $1.28

-17.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.68 HK$60.3

$13.50 $13.50

-43.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 HK$49.24

$3.46 $3.46

81.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 HK$22.45

$0.90 $0.90

217.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 HK$19.10

$2.52 $2.52

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 HK$17.09

$1.56 $1.56

39.74%

Eggs

$3.54 HK$27.80

$2.89 $2.89

22.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.12 HK$197

$4.91 $4.91

411.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 HK$69.8

$3.86 $3.86

130.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 HK$138

$5.50 $5.50

220.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 HK$32.22

$6.12 $6.12

-32.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 HK$21.32

$5.13 $5.13

-46.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 HK$36.05

$2.28 $2.28

101.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 HK$31.52

$2.18 $2.18

84.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 HK$25.50

$4.53 $4.53

-28.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 HK$25.70

$4.53 $4.53

-27.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 HK$12.54

$2.26 $2.26

-29.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 HK$13.56

$0.46 $0.46

276.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.14 HK$103

$4.52 $4.52

190.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.59 HK$130

$7.94 $7.94

108.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 HK$15.80

$1.15 $1.15

74.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 HK$17.13

$2.18 $2.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.44 HK$11.31

$1.00 $1.00

44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.1 HK$699

$38.72 $38.72

130.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 HK$28.53

$1.52 $1.52

139.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 HK$10.29

$2.25 $2.25

-41.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.82 HK$124

$39.80 $39.80

-60.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.06 HK$31.89

$0.71 $0.71

471.83%

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

$44.4K HK$348.2K

$22.2K $22.2K

99.79%

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

$37.4K HK$293.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

33.97%

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

$247 HK$1,942

$33.64 $33.64

635.61%

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

$15.89 HK$125

$11.23 $11.23

41.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.46 HK$168

$45.44 $45.44

-52.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.4 HK$717

$59.4 $59.4

53.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 HK$71.3

$14.41 $14.41

-36.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 HK$110

$7.78 $7.78

79.43%

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

$1,155 HK$9,067

$106 $106

994.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K HK$174.6K

$2,149 $2,149

935.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 HK$541

$22.12 $22.12

211.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.44 HK$317

$28.19 $28.19

43.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 HK$627

$62.9 $62.9

27.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 HK$923

$84.7 $84.7

38.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 HK$17.1K

$97.2 $97.2

2142.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,718 HK$13.5K

$104 $104

1557.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,047 HK$39.6K

$1,399 $1,399

260.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,543 HK$27.8K

$208 $208

1602.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.1K HK$228.7K

$1,684 $1,684

1630.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.6K HK$137.9K

$1,392 $1,392

1161.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,228 HK$25.3K

$232 $232

1292.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.91

7.11

-45.01%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 4, 2026

Last update for North Korea: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hong Kong

$1.7K 57.5%

North Korea

$104 12.3% 94% $1.6K

Groceries & Markets

Hong Kong

$415 13.9%

North Korea

$247 29.4% 40.4% $168

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hong Kong

$285 9.5%

North Korea

$90 10.7% 68.3% $194

Eating Out

Hong Kong

$205 6.9%

North Korea

$182 21.6% 11.5% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Hong Kong

$138 4.6%

North Korea

$89 10.6% 35.5% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Hong Kong

$119 4%

North Korea

$75 8.9% 37.1% $44

Getting Around

Hong Kong

$105 3.5%

North Korea

$56 6.6% 47.2% $50

Good to know

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

🇰🇵 North Korea

🕒 Local time

18:51 6:51 PM

19:51 7:51 PM

1 h ahead of Hong Kong

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,367,900 Capital

26,418,204

💱 Currency

Hong Kong Dollar HKD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 HKD = 0.127 USD

1 HKD = 0.114 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to HKD – Hong Kong Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Dollar ($)

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.79 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to HKD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Hong Kong North Korea 2,160 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Hong Kong
North Korea

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Hong Kong vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Melbourne

🇦🇺 Australia

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Rotterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Las Vegas, NV

🇺🇸 United States

Phoenix, AZ

🇺🇸 United States