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

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $107 per month in North Korea vs $450 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $170 per month in North Korea vs $678 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $232 per month in North Korea vs $905 in Pakistan, rent included.

The cost of living in North Korea is roughly 76% lower than in Pakistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both North Korea and Pakistan are more affordable than the global median – North Korea 92% lower, Pakistan 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 $2.96

$2.10 PKR 581

40.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.59 $23.59

$14.51 PKR 4,021

62.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.83 $19.83

$5.53 PKR 1,533

258.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PKR 1,120

Cappuccino

$1.19 $1.19

$2.04 PKR 564

-41.67%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$0.38 PKR 105

507.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.24 PKR 66.7

450.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.19 $14.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.85 PKR 235

7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.63 PKR 174

296.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.22 PKR 339

37.70%

Eggs

$3.00 $3.00

$1.22 PKR 337

145.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.79 PKR 1,603

-11.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.90 PKR 803

44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.08 PKR 1,407

16.54%

Apples (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$1.13 PKR 313

455.75%

Banana (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$0.69 PKR 191

659.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.84 PKR 232

178.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.57 PKR 159

317.54%

Potato (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$0.34 PKR 95.0

1267.65%

Onion (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$0.42 PKR 116

983.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.34 PKR 95.1

600.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.41 PKR 113

7.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.04 PKR 566

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 299

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 644

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.14 PKR 594

118.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 $1.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.18 PKR 48.48

494.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.93 $39.93

$9.87 PKR 2,736

304.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.91 PKR 252

68.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.52 PKR 144

334.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.44 $41.44

$2.17 PKR 601

1809.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.22 PKR 337

-40.16%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$18.3K PKR 5.1M

28.95%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$25.4K PKR 7.0M

15.58%

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

$34.90 $34.90

$108 PKR 30.0K

-67.78%

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

$11.69 $11.69

$5.35 PKR 1,481

118.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.69 $45.69

$15.67 PKR 4,340

191.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$15.93 PKR 4,412

286.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.70 PKR 2,964

39.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 $7.93

$4.41 PKR 1,222

79.82%

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

$113 $113

$42.68 PKR 11.8K

163.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,171 $2,171

$1,343 PKR 372.0K

61.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.32 $23.32

$15.94 PKR 4,417

46.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.00 $29.00

$23.78 PKR 6,589

21.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 $63.1

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

-19.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 $85.9

$33.79 PKR 9,361

154.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 $101

$134 PKR 37.1K

-24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 $108

$77.9 PKR 21.6K

39.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$309 PKR 85.5K

386.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 $214

$172 PKR 47.7K

24.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,758 $1,758

$1,017 PKR 281.8K

72.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,437 $1,437

$522 PKR 144.5K

175.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 $244

$185 PKR 51.2K

32.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.11

13.96

-49.07%

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

Last update for North Korea: September 7, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $17.00 in North Korea vs $122 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $94.0 in Pyongyang and $270 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $232 in North Korea vs $181 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 618% higher in Pakistan.

Dining out costs 117% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 125% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 28% higher in North Korea, 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

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

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 22% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Pakistan, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Pakistan consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 22% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in Pakistan it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

North Korea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.