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

Name: United States
Address: US

🙂 Solo nomad: North Korea is 41.8% cheaper than United States without rent, and 70.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: North Korea is 48.2% cheaper than United States without rent, and 67.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.92 $2.92

$20.22 $20.22

-85.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.62 $23.62

$75.7 $75.7

-68.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.47 $11.47

12.03%

Cappuccino

$1.14 $1.14

$5.13 $5.13

-77.78%

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

$2.25 $2.25

$2.61 $2.61

-13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.14 $2.14

-44.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.73 $13.73

$6.17 $6.17

122.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$7.07 $7.07

-57.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.08 $1.08

-12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.74 $3.74

-43.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$4.57 $4.57

-63.46%

Eggs

$2.41 $2.41

$4.20 $4.20

-42.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$13.02 $13.02

-64.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$12.18 $12.18

-80.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$16.14 $16.14

-64.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.31 $5.31

29.19%

Banana (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.72 $1.72

171.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$4.59 $4.59

-49.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$4.96 $4.96

-54.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.00 $3.00

19.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.04 $3.04

16.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.18 $2.18

6.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$2.19 $2.19

-79.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 $4.69

$10.16 $10.16

-53.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$15.16 $15.16

-46.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.99 $1.99

-42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.71 $3.71

-36.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 $1.06

$2.48 $2.48

-57.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.31 $40.31

$63.9 $63.9

-36.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.69 $3.69

-57.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.76 $1.76

19.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.18 $41.18

$30.06 $30.06

36.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.96 $0.96

-25.00%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$30.2K $30.2K

-22.32%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

7.88%

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

$34.07 $34.07

$207 $207

-83.56%

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

$11.55 $11.55

$57.0 $57.0

-79.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.59 $45.59

$71.5 $71.5

-36.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.05 $44.05

$45.91 $45.91

-4.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.30 $15.30

$22.25 $22.25

-31.24%

Cinema Ticket

$8.29 $8.29

$14.13 $14.13

-41.33%

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

$110 $110

$1,385 $1,385

-92.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,185 $2,185

$22.2K $22.2K

-90.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.02 $23.02

$52.1 $52.1

-55.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.29 $29.29

$42.53 $42.53

-31.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 $64.8

$89.9 $89.9

-27.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 $85.5

$114 $114

-25.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$96.8 $96.8

$1,743 $1,743

-94.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 $108

$1,422 $1,422

-92.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,445 $1,445

$2,821 $2,821

-48.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$2,370 $2,370

-91.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,772 $1,772

$3,338 $3,338

-46.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 $1,423

$2,615 $2,615

-45.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$239 $239

$4,230 $4,230

-94.35%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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