Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $838 in North Korea, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. The total is higher in North Korea despite lower rent and utilities.

23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
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Pakistan Living Index
40

Cost of Living Index in North Korea
Learn more

North Korea Living Index

Jump to prices

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

🇰🇵 North Korea

$838

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in North Korea

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

A single person spends $483 per month in Pakistan vs $838 in North Korea, rent included.

Pakistan $483
North Korea $838

A couple spends around $736 per month in Pakistan vs $1,313 in North Korea, rent included.

Pakistan $736
North Korea $1,313

A family of three spends $988 per month in Pakistan vs $1,788 in North Korea, rent included.

Pakistan $988
North Korea $1,788

Cost ranges are similar: Pakistan spans $291–$607, North Korea $415–$709. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

The cost of living in Pakistan is roughly 42% lower than in North Korea on average.

Both Pakistan and North Korea are more affordable than the global median – Pakistan 65% lower, North Korea 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 582

$2.86 $2.86

-26.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.97 PKR 3,862

$22.87 $22.87

-38.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PKR 1,521

$19.38 $19.38

-71.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,192

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 545

$1.09 $1.09

80.73%

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

$0.38 PKR 105

$2.21 $2.21

-82.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.6

$1.21 $1.21

-80.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.17 $13.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 239

$0.88 $0.88

-1.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 164

$2.47 $2.47

-75.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.56 $1.56

-22.44%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 333

$2.99 $2.99

-59.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.42 PKR 1,499

$5.04 $5.04

7.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 782

$3.89 $3.89

-27.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,399

$5.68 $5.68

-10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$6.07 $6.07

-80.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 176

$4.95 $4.95

-87.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 241

$2.20 $2.20

-60.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$2.26 $2.26

-76.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.7

$4.45 $4.45

-92.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$4.49 $4.49

-91.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 PKR 104

$2.22 $2.22

-83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.46 $0.46

-10.87%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 574

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 593

$4.54 $4.54

-52.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.0

$1.00 $1.00

-80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 PKR 2,766

$38.76 $38.76

-74.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.47 $1.47

-40.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 PKR 155

$2.19 $2.19

-74.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 PKR 613

$40.90 $40.90

-94.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 PKR 356

$0.70 $0.70

84.29%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$22.2K $22.2K

-19.95%

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

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

$27.9K $27.9K

-12.88%

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

$110 PKR 30.5K

$34.10 $34.10

223.43%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,494

$10.98 $10.98

-50.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.79 PKR 4,364

$44.81 $44.81

-64.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.50 PKR 5,114

$58.2 $58.2

-68.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 PKR 3,064

$14.76 $14.76

-24.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 PKR 1,194

$7.90 $7.90

-45.32%

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

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

$105 $105

-46.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,511 PKR 417.8K

$2,086 $2,086

-27.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.56 PKR 4,855

$21.90 $21.90

-19.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.58 PKR 6,517

$28.28 $28.28

-16.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

$60.7 $60.7

26.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.08 PKR 9,696

$83.1 $83.1

-57.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.5K

$93.9 $93.9

59.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

$106 $106

-17.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 PKR 88.6K

$1,404 $1,404

-77.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 PKR 52.5K

$205 $205

-7.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$970 PKR 268.2K

$1,698 $1,698

-42.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 143.9K

$1,380 $1,380

-62.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 PKR 53.1K

$230 $230

-16.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.1

7.11

98.31%

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

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Last update for North Korea: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pakistan

$131 27.2%

North Korea

$90 10.7% 31.6% $42

Groceries & Markets

Pakistan

$94 19.5%

North Korea

$246 29.3% 162% $152

Accommodation & Living

Pakistan

$87 18.1%

North Korea

$106 12.6% 20.8% $18

Clothing & Footwear

Pakistan

$69 14.3%

North Korea

$87 10.4% 26.8% $18

Eating Out

Pakistan

$59 12.3%

North Korea

$180 21.5% 203% $121

Sport & Entertainment

Pakistan

$27 5.6%

North Korea

$74 8.8% 173% $47

Getting Around

Pakistan

$14 3%

North Korea

$55 6.6% 281% $41

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $137 in Pakistan vs $89 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $261 in Islamabad and $88 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $185 in Pakistan vs $228 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 54% higher in Pakistan.

Dining out costs 123% more in North Korea.

Public transport is 280% more expensive in North Korea.

Salaries are 23% higher in North Korea, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Pakistan.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🇰🇵 North Korea

🕒 Local time

10:14 10:14 AM

14:14 2:14 PM

4 h ahead of Pakistan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

223,773,700

26,418,204

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rupee (₨)

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 276 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PKR in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Pakistan North Korea 4,690 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Pakistan
North Korea

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

Pakistan vs North Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 42% lower on average.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Pakistan – part of why living there is about 42% cheaper overall.

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