Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Patiala Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Patiala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $244 per month in Pyongyang vs $442 in Patiala, rent included.

A couple spends around $386 per month in Pyongyang vs $659 in Patiala, rent included.

A family of three spends $529 per month in Pyongyang vs $877 in Patiala, rent included.

Pyongyang is about 45% cheaper than Patiala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pyongyang and Patiala are more affordable than the global median – Pyongyang 82% lower, Patiala 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 ₹269

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.16 $23.16

$6.92 ₹655

234.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 ₹268

Cappuccino

$1.17 $1.17

$1.77 ₹167

-33.90%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$0.35 ₹32.89

568.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.17 ₹16.39

570.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.95 $13.95

$1.41 ₹134

889.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.55 ₹242

32.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.75 ₹70.5

32.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.53 ₹50.2

337.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.90 ₹85.2

7.78%

Eggs

$2.10 $2.10

$1.13 ₹106

85.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.24 ₹401

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₹367

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₹219

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 ₹49.84

Oranges (1kg)

$0.49 ₹46.59

Tomato (1kg)

$0.32 ₹29.94

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 ₹24.55

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 ₹31.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₹57.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹31.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.00 ₹378

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 ₹754

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₹166

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₹179

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$8.77 ₹830

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹28.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.54 ₹808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 ₹53.7

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₹130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₹111

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

$13.7K ₹1.3M

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

$24.4K ₹2.3M

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

$53.2 ₹5,030

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

$3.53 ₹334

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.17 ₹867

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.49 ₹1,844

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.93 ₹656

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 ₹392

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

$50.6 ₹4,790

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,517 ₹143.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.42 ₹2,783

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.16 ₹2,758

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.81 ₹4,428

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.48 ₹2,884

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.4 $91.4

$144 ₹13.6K

-36.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 $92.3

$99.2 ₹9,382

-6.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₹25.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 $140

$198 ₹18.7K

-29.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,781 ₹546.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$249 $249

$333 ₹31.5K

-25.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.84

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

Last update for Pyongyang: June 15, 2026

Last update for Patiala: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.4 in Pyongyang versus $144 in Patiala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Patiala, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Pyongyang versus $7.00 in Patiala. Groceries tell a different story – $45.00 in Pyongyang vs $108 in Patiala – so Pyongyang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Patiala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Patiala costs about 81% more than Pyongyang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $366 per month in Pyongyang and $663 in Patiala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pyongyang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $244 in Pyongyang and $442 in Patiala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 137% more in Patiala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $244 in Pyongyang and $442 in Patiala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Pyongyang – 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 Pyongyang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Patiala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.