Cost of Living Comparison Between North Korea and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between North Korea and United States

🙂 Solo nomad: North Korea is 42.4% cheaper than United States without rent, and 71.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: North Korea is 46.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 69% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Korea
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 $2.82
$20.33 $20.33
-86.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.71 $23.71
$74.4 $74.4
-68.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.81 $12.81
$11.49 $11.49
11.49%
Cappuccino
$1.15 $1.15
$5.09 $5.09
-77.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.54 $2.54
-9.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 $1.19
$2.11 $2.11
-43.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.69 $13.69
$6.09 $6.09
124.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$7.1 $7.1
-58.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Korea
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.08 $1.08
-9.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.7 $3.7
-41.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$4.65 $4.65
-64.09%
Eggs
$2.52 $2.52
$4.21 $4.21
-40.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$12.75 $12.75
-64.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$12.24 $12.24
-80.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.89 $5.89
$16.08 $16.08
-63.37%
Apples (1kg)
$6.81 $6.81
$5.41 $5.41
25.88%
Banana (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$1.73 $1.73
163.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 $2.33
$4.37 $4.37
-46.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$4.94 $4.94
-54.25%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.88 $2.88
22.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.07 $3.07
10.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.25 $2.25
2.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 $0.44
$2.21 $2.21
-80.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 $4.57
$10.09 $10.09
-54.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 $8.26
$14.73 $14.73
-43.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.91 $1.91
-40.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$3.54 $3.54
-33.90%
🚌 Getting Around
North Korea
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.56 $2.56
-58.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.03 $40.03
$63.9 $63.9
-37.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.81 $3.81
-58.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.77 $1.77
19.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.61 $41.61
$30.4 $30.4
36.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.94 $0.94
-18.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$30K $30K
-21.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$25.8K $25.8K
10.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Korea
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 $35.22
$209 $209
-83.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.55 $11.55
$57.9 $57.9
-80.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.48 $45.48
$71.1 $71.1
-36.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Korea
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.61 $44.61
$45.88 $45.88
-2.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.31 $15.31
$22.25 $22.25
-31.19%
Cinema Ticket
$8.18 $8.18
$14.14 $14.14
-42.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Korea
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 $110
$1,373 $1,373
-92.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,138 $2,138
$22.4K $22.4K
-90.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Korea
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.16 $23.16
$51.5 $51.5
-55.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.08 $29.08
$41.96 $41.96
-30.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.2 $63.2
$88.3 $88.3
-28.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.6 $86.6
$112 $112
-22.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Korea
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.5 $97.5
$1,731 $1,731
-94.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 $106
$1,446 $1,446
-92.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 $1,449
$2,846 $2,846
-49.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 $212
$2,366 $2,366
-91.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,732 $1,732
$3,245 $3,245
-46.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,413 $1,413
$2,667 $2,667
-47.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Korea
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 $246
$4,312 $4,312
-94.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.11
6.51
9.22%

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

Last update for North Korea: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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