Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Kaesong

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Cost of Living Index in Pyongyang
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Pyongyang Living Index

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Pyongyang

🇰🇵 North Korea

$426

/mo nomad

Kaesong

🇰🇵 North Korea

/mo nomad

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.93 $4.93

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.47 $36.47

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$21.96 $21.96

Cappuccino

$1.13 $1.13

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

$2.19 $2.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.69 $13.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 $2.37

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

Eggs

$2.08 $2.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.0 $91.0

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.7 $89.7

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 $135

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 $250

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

Last update for Pyongyang: October 3, 2026

Last update for Kaesong: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Eating Out

Pyongyang

$211 50%

Kaesong

–

Accommodation & Living

Pyongyang

$90 21.3%

Kaesong

–

Sport & Entertainment

Pyongyang

$76 * 18%

Kaesong

–

Groceries & Markets

Pyongyang

$45 * 10.7%

Kaesong

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇰🇵 Pyongyang

🇰🇵 Kaesong

🕒 Local time

15:48 3:48 PM

Same time as Pyongyang

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,255,288 Capital

308,000

💱 Currency

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Pyongyang Kaesong 140 km

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Pyongyang
Kaesong

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated June 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Pyongyang vs Kaesong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward Kaesong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kaesong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pyongyang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.