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

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

The cost of living in Pakistan is about 321% higher than in North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 581

$2.96 $2.96

-29.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.51 PKR 4,021

$23.59 $23.59

-38.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,533

$19.83 $19.83

-72.11%

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

$2.04 PKR 564

$1.19 $1.19

71.43%

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

$0.38 PKR 105

$2.31 $2.31

-83.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$1.32 $1.32

-81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.19 $14.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.91 $0.91

-6.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$2.50 $2.50

-74.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.68 $1.68

-27.38%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$3.00 $3.00

-59.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 PKR 1,603

$5.10 $5.10

13.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 803

$4.18 $4.18

-30.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.08 PKR 1,407

$5.92 $5.92

-14.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 313

$6.28 $6.28

-82.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$5.24 $5.24

-86.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$2.34 $2.34

-64.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$2.38 $2.38

-76.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$4.65 $4.65

-92.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$4.55 $4.55

-90.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$2.38 $2.38

-85.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 $0.44

-6.82%

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)

$2.14 PKR 594

$4.67 $4.67

-54.18%

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)

$0.18 PKR 48.48

$1.07 $1.07

-83.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.87 PKR 2,736

$39.93 $39.93

-75.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 252

$1.53 $1.53

-40.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.26 $2.26

-76.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 PKR 601

$41.44 $41.44

-94.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 PKR 337

$0.73 $0.73

67.12%

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

$18.3K PKR 5.1M

$23.6K $23.6K

-22.45%

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

$25.4K PKR 7.0M

$29.4K $29.4K

-13.48%

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

$108 PKR 30.0K

$34.90 $34.90

210.40%

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

$5.35 PKR 1,481

$11.69 $11.69

-54.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.67 PKR 4,340

$45.69 $45.69

-65.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.93 PKR 4,412

$61.6 $61.6

-74.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 PKR 2,964

$14.88 $14.88

-28.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,222

$7.93 $7.93

-44.39%

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

$42.68 PKR 11.8K

$113 $113

-62.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,343 PKR 372.0K

$2,171 $2,171

-38.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,417

$23.32 $23.32

-31.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.78 PKR 6,589

$29.00 $29.00

-18.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$63.1 $63.1

24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.79 PKR 9,361

$85.9 $85.9

-60.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 PKR 37.1K

$101 $101

32.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.9 PKR 21.6K

$108 $108

-28.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PKR 85.5K

$1,501 $1,501

-79.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.7K

$214 $214

-19.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,017 PKR 281.8K

$1,758 $1,758

-42.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 144.5K

$1,437 $1,437

-63.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.2K

$244 $244

-24.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.96

7.11

96.34%

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

Last update for Pakistan: September 7, 2026

Last update for North Korea: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $181 in Pakistan vs $232 in North Korea. 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

Pakistan vs North Korea: 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.