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

😐 Solo nomad: North Korea is 38.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 1.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: North Korea is 24.5% more expensive than China without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Korea
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 ¥20.21
$2.85 $2.85
-1.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.71 ¥170
$23.97 $23.97
-1.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.81 ¥91.9
$4.96 $4.96
158.27%
Cappuccino
$1.15 ¥8.23
$3.13 $3.13
-63.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 ¥16.51
$0.44 $0.44
422.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$0.29 $0.29
310.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.69 ¥98.2
$0.95 $0.95
1341.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ¥20.94
$2.14 $2.14
36.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Korea
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 ¥7.03
$1.85 $1.85
-47.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 ¥15.59
$1.68 $1.68
29.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 ¥12
$0.95 $0.95
75.79%
Eggs
$2.52 ¥18.05
$1.55 $1.55
62.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.59 ¥32.91
$13.25 $13.25
-65.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.35 ¥16.88
$3.28 $3.28
-28.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.89 ¥42.26
$10.85 $10.85
-45.71%
Apples (1kg)
$6.81 ¥48.85
$1.77 $1.77
284.75%
Banana (1kg)
$4.55 ¥32.65
$1.26 $1.26
261.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ¥16.73
$1.5 $1.5
55.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.19 $1.19
89.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ¥25.36
$0.75 $0.75
372.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.4 ¥24.4
$0.86 $0.86
295.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 ¥16.48
$0.61 $0.61
277.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.16
$0.58 $0.58
-24.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ¥32.8
$3.45 $3.45
32.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 ¥59.3
$11.3 $11.3
-26.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ¥8.15
$0.84 $0.84
35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ¥16.78
$1.68 $1.68
39.29%
🚌 Getting Around
North Korea
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 ¥7.64
$0.4 $0.4
165.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.03 ¥287
$20.83 $20.83
92.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 ¥11.31
$1.36 $1.36
16.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 ¥15.13
$0.35 $0.35
502.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.61 ¥298
$6.8 $6.8
511.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 ¥5.54
$1.12 $1.12
-31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K ¥167.7K
$19.2K $19.2K
21.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ¥204.7K
$16.7K $16.7K
70.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Korea
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 ¥253
$51.4 $51.4
-31.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.55 ¥82.8
$9.77 $9.77
18.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.48 ¥326
$11.34 $11.34
301.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Korea
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.61 ¥320
$39.55 $39.55
12.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.31 ¥110
$14.89 $14.89
2.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.18 ¥58.7
$6.23 $6.23
31.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Korea
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 ¥788
$417 $417
-73.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,138 ¥15.3K
$17.7K $17.7K
-87.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Korea
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.16 ¥166
$45.65 $45.65
-49.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.08 ¥209
$33.49 $33.49
-13.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.2 ¥453
$71.8 $71.8
-12.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.6 ¥621
$72.9 $72.9
18.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Korea
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.5 ¥699
$445 $445
-78.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 ¥762
$255 $255
-58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 ¥10.4K
$915 $915
58.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 ¥1,523
$543 $543
-60.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,732 ¥12.4K
$6,142 $6,142
-71.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,413 ¥10.1K
$2,860 $2,860
-50.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Korea
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ¥1,767
$942 $942
-73.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.11
4.06
75.12%

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

Last update for North Korea: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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