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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $246 per month in Pyongyang vs $434 in Patiala, rent included.

A couple spends around $393 per month in Pyongyang vs $667 in Patiala, rent included.

A family of three spends $541 per month in Pyongyang vs $900 in Patiala, rent included.

Pyongyang is about 43% cheaper than Patiala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pyongyang and Patiala are more affordable than the global median – Pyongyang 82% lower, Patiala 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 ₹270

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.96 $22.96

$7.18 ₹680

219.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.95 ₹279

Cappuccino

$1.19 $1.19

$1.72 ₹163

-30.81%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$0.35 ₹33.07

571.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.17 ₹16.33

588.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.06 $14.06

$1.43 ₹135

883.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.66 ₹252

28.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.75 ₹71.2

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.54 ₹50.9

346.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.88 ₹83.7

3.41%

Eggs

$2.05 $2.05

$1.12 ₹106

83.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.06 ₹384

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₹354

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 ₹228

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 ₹47.06

Oranges (1kg)

$0.46 ₹43.18

Tomato (1kg)

$0.34 ₹32.61

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 ₹24.29

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 ₹29.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₹57.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ₹374

Wine (Bottle)

$7.82 ₹740

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₹175

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

$8.84 ₹836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₹26.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.58 ₹812

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 ₹56.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₹130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₹107

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

$13.8K ₹1.3M

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

$25.0K ₹2.4M

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

$53.1 ₹5,028

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

$3.55 ₹336

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.24 ₹874

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.00 ₹1,798

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.93 ₹655

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 ₹390

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

$51.0 ₹4,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,560 ₹147.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.06 ₹2,749

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.52 ₹2,698

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.41 ₹4,486

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.54 ₹2,984

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$90.9 $90.9

$147 ₹13.9K

-38.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.0 $93.0

$98.8 ₹9,346

-5.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 ₹26.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 $140

$194 ₹18.4K

-27.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$940 ₹89.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$591 ₹55.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 $260

$338 ₹32.0K

-23.15%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Patiala: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $90.9 in Pyongyang versus $147 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 30% 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 – $46.00 in Pyongyang vs $106 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 77% more than Pyongyang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $368 per month in Pyongyang and $651 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 $246 in Pyongyang and $434 in Patiala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $246 in Pyongyang and $434 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.