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 $89.0 per month in North Korea vs $392 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $140 per month in North Korea vs $591 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $191 per month in North Korea vs $790 in Pakistan, rent included.

North Korea is roughly 77% cheaper than 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 93% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 $2.96

$1.82 PKR 506

62.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.49 $23.49

$12.25 PKR 3,409

91.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.11 $13.11

$4.27 PKR 1,188

207.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 PKR 1,136

Cappuccino

$1.18 $1.18

$1.77 PKR 493

-33.33%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$0.34 PKR 93.3

550.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.23 PKR 64.2

395.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.14 $14.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.77 PKR 214

22.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 $2.08

$0.56 PKR 155

271.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.22 PKR 340

32.79%

Eggs

$2.51 $2.51

$1.21 PKR 337

107.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.68 PKR 1,579

-16.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.00 PKR 835

-22.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$4.29 PKR 1,193

38.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$1.02 PKR 284

559.80%

Banana (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$0.62 PKR 174

666.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.77 PKR 213

203.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.49 PKR 138

359.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$0.35 PKR 98.2

865.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$0.48 PKR 134

629.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.38 PKR 106

518.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.36 PKR 99.7

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 532

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 PKR 304

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 PKR 557

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.96 PKR 546

130.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.15 PKR 42.98

600.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.91 $39.91

$7.14 PKR 1,987

458.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.85 PKR 237

85.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.51 PKR 143

298.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.06 $41.06

$1.81 PKR 503

2168.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.90 PKR 249

-20.00%

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

$22.7K $22.7K

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

30.21%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

22.78%

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

$34.83 $34.83

$110 PKR 30.7K

-68.42%

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

$11.58 $11.58

$4.72 PKR 1,313

145.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.48 $46.48

$15.34 PKR 4,268

203.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.32 $44.32

$13.40 PKR 3,728

230.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.79 $14.79

$8.53 PKR 2,374

73.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.15 $8.15

$4.31 PKR 1,199

89.10%

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

$112 $112

$38.86 PKR 10.8K

188.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,153 $2,153

$1,143 PKR 318.1K

88.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.78 $22.78

$15.81 PKR 4,398

44.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.75 $28.75

$23.47 PKR 6,529

22.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.0 $63.0

$72.0 PKR 20.0K

-12.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.6 $86.6

$33.27 PKR 9,255

160.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$99.7 $99.7

$111 PKR 30.9K

-10.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 $110

$67.3 PKR 18.7K

63.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 $1,447

$272 PKR 75.7K

432.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 $215

$167 PKR 46.5K

28.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,755 $1,755

$983 PKR 273.4K

78.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 $1,445

$519 PKR 144.4K

178.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$243 $243

$185 PKR 51.5K

31.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.11

18.97

-62.52%

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

Last update for North Korea: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $17.00 in North Korea vs $78.0 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $93.0 in Pyongyang and $198 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $234 in North Korea vs $187 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 359% higher in Pakistan.

Dining out costs 175% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 75% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 25% higher in North Korea, giving North Korea stronger purchasing power.

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 11% 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 11% 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.