Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between North Korea and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $838 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $22,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

40

Cost of Living Index in North Korea
Learn more

North Korea Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
Learn more

United States Living Index

Jump to prices

🇰🇵 North Korea

$838

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in North Korea and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in North Korea and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $838 per month in North Korea vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

North Korea $838
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $1,313 per month in North Korea vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

North Korea $1,313
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $1,788 per month in North Korea vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

North Korea $1,788
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in North Korea ($415–$709), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in North Korea is roughly 69% lower than in the United States on average.

North Korea sits 38% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 $2.86

$20.03 $20.03

-85.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.87 $22.87

$80.0 $80.0

-71.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.38 $19.38

$11.80 $11.80

64.24%

Cappuccino

$1.09 $1.09

$5.55 $5.55

-80.36%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$2.66 $2.66

-16.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 $1.21

$2.17 $2.17

-44.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.17 $13.17

$6.12 $6.12

115.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$7.94 $7.94

-56.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.04 $1.04

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.59 $3.59

-31.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$4.52 $4.52

-65.49%

Eggs

$2.99 $2.99

$4.28 $4.28

-30.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$13.22 $13.22

-61.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$12.60 $12.60

-69.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$17.60 $17.60

-67.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.30 $5.30

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$1.69 $1.69

192.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.44 $4.44

-50.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.77 $4.77

-52.62%

Potato (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.97 $2.97

49.83%

Onion (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.15 $3.15

42.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.20 $2.20

0.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

$2.35 $2.35

-80.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 $4.54

$10.98 $10.98

-58.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$15.05 $15.05

-48.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.06 $2.06

-45.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.79 $3.79

-42.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.94 $1.94

-48.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.76 $38.76

$59.4 $59.4

-34.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.58 $3.58

-58.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.88 $1.88

16.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.90 $40.90

$29.84 $29.84

37.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$1.02 $1.02

-31.37%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$28.8K $28.8K

-22.79%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

6.61%

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

$34.10 $34.10

$218 $218

-84.35%

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

$10.98 $10.98

$62.5 $62.5

-82.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.81 $44.81

$74.5 $74.5

-39.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.2 $58.2

$41.86 $41.86

39.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$22.81 $22.81

-35.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 $7.90

$14.70 $14.70

-46.26%

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

$105 $105

$1,489 $1,489

-92.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,086 $2,086

$25.3K $25.3K

-91.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.90 $21.90

$54.3 $54.3

-59.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.28 $28.28

$42.71 $42.71

-33.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 $60.7

$94.1 $94.1

-35.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 $83.1

$114 $114

-26.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.9 $93.9

$1,659 $1,659

-94.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 $106

$1,348 $1,348

-92.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,404 $1,404

$2,682 $2,682

-47.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 $205

$2,169 $2,169

-90.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 $1,698

$3,283 $3,283

-48.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,380 $1,380

$2,482 $2,482

-44.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 $230

$4,296 $4,296

-94.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.11

6.55

8.55%

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

Last update for North Korea: October 26, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

North Korea

$246 29.3%

United States

$415 15.2% 69% $170

Eating Out

North Korea

$180 21.5%

United States

$328 12% 81.7% $148

Accommodation & Living

North Korea

$106 12.6%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 1177% $1.2K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

North Korea

$90 10.7%

United States

$355 13% 295% $265

Clothing & Footwear

North Korea

$87 10.4%

United States

$137 5% 57.1% $50

Sport & Entertainment

North Korea

$74 8.8%

United States

$71 2.6% 3.7% $2.8

Getting Around

North Korea

$55 6.6%

United States

$80 2.9% 45.3% $25

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $89 in North Korea vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $88 in Pyongyang and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $228 in North Korea vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1720% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 159% more in the United States.

Public transport is 66% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 20 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇰🇵 North Korea

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

09:46 9:46 AM

20:46 8:46 PM

13 h behind North Korea

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

26,418,204

340,110,988

💱 Currency

USD USD

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

North Korea United States 11,060 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

North Korea
United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 69% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $89 in North Korea.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in North Korea, adding to the overall 226% price gap.

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

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