Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Ongjin

For one person, living is cheaper in Pyongyang: $412 a month against $711 in Ongjin, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

12

Cost of Living Index in Pyongyang
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Pyongyang Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Ongjin
Learn more

Ongjin Living Index

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Pyongyang

🇰🇵 North Korea

$412

/mo nomad

Ongjin

🇰🇵 North Korea

$711

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pyongyang and in Ongjin

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $412 in Pyongyang versus $711 in Ongjin.

Pyongyang $412
Ongjin $711

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Pyongyang versus $1,113 in Ongjin.

Pyongyang $669
Ongjin $1,113

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $926 in Pyongyang versus $1,514 in Ongjin.

Pyongyang $926
Ongjin $1,514

Living in Pyongyang costs roughly 42% less than in Ongjin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pyongyang 70% lower, Ongjin 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 $4.91

$2.71 $2.71

81.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.24 $35.24

$22.81 $22.81

54.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.77 $20.77

$8.04 $8.04

158.33%

Cappuccino

$1.11 $1.11

$1.13 $1.13

-1.77%

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

$2.25 $2.25

$0.94 $0.94

139.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.99 $0.99

25.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.21 $13.21

$6.89 $6.89

91.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.17 $2.17

127.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.91 $0.91

-1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.58 $1.58

46.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.16 $2.16

-55.56%

Eggs

$2.00 $2.00

$3.13 $3.13

-36.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

Apples (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

Banana (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 $4.41

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 $7.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 $1.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 $0.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.70 $39.70

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 $2.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.99 $39.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

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

$22.1K $22.1K

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

$27.9K $27.9K

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

$33.24 $33.24

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

$11.00 $11.00

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.10 $45.10

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.7 $73.7

$41.60 $41.60

77.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.47 $14.47

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 $7.63

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

$107 $107

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,080 $2,080

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.73 $22.73

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.97 $27.97

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 $60.7

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.6 $84.6

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$89.4 $89.4

$89.7 $89.7

-0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.1 $89.1

$87.9 $87.9

1.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,189 $2,189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 $133

-0.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,663 $1,663

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,376 $1,376

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 $246

$208 $208

18.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.11

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

Last update for Pyongyang: October 10, 2026

Last update for Ongjin: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Eating Out

Pyongyang

$205 49.8%

Ongjin

$106 14.9% 48.3% $99

Accommodation & Living

Pyongyang

$89 21.6%

Ongjin

$88 12.4% 1.4% $1.2

Sport & Entertainment

Pyongyang

$74 * 17.9%

Ongjin

$57 8% 22.9% $17

Groceries & Markets

Pyongyang

$44 * 10.7%

Ongjin

$226 31.8% 414% $182

Getting Around

Pyongyang

- * 0%

Ongjin

$56 8%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pyongyang

- * 0%

Ongjin

$89 12.6%

Clothing & Footwear

Pyongyang

- * 0%

Ongjin

$88 12.4%

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $89.4 in Pyongyang and $89.7 in Ongjin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pyongyang pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Pyongyang vs $23.00 in Ongjin. Groceries flip the comparison at $44.00 vs $226, with Pyongyang cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇰🇵 Pyongyang

🇰🇵 Ongjin

🕒 Local time

18:16 6:16 PM

Same time as Pyongyang

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,255,288 Capital

152,878

💱 Currency

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Ongjin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pyongyang is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and utilities. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Pyongyang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $89.4 in Pyongyang versus $89.7 in Ongjin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 414% higher in Ongjin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pyongyang – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $23.00 in Ongjin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pyongyang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Pyongyang and Ongjin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pyongyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Ongjin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.