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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $421 per month in Pyongyang vs $372 in Patiala, rent included.

A couple spends around $686 per month in Pyongyang vs $590 in Patiala, rent included.

A family of three spends $950 per month in Pyongyang vs $808 in Patiala, rent included.

Pyongyang costs about 13% more than Patiala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pyongyang and Patiala are more affordable than the global median – Pyongyang 69% lower, Patiala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.10 $5.10

$2.65 ₹254

92.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.04 $37.04

$16.13 ₹1,547

129.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$21.84 $21.84

$2.65 ₹254

724.15%

Cappuccino

$1.14 $1.14

$1.59 ₹153

-28.30%

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

$2.25 $2.25

$0.32 ₹30.40

603.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.17 ₹16.48

664.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.03 $14.03

$1.21 ₹117

1059.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.15 ₹207

139.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.66 ₹63.7

40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.47 ₹45.40

412.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.81 ₹77.5

13.58%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$0.96 ₹91.8

112.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.32 ₹319

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 ₹353

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 ₹207

Banana (1kg)

$0.48 ₹46.00

Oranges (1kg)

$0.43 ₹41.60

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 ₹28.96

Potato (1kg)

$0.19 ₹18.12

Onion (1kg)

$0.27 ₹25.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ₹48.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₹30.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ₹381

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 ₹717

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₹152

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₹164

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

$7.28 ₹698

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ₹71.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 ₹47.40

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.15 ₹14.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₹202

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ₹96.9

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

$12.6K ₹1.2M

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

$23.6K ₹2.3M

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

$43.38 ₹4,162

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

$3.14 ₹302

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.14 ₹781

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.9 $78.9

$17.42 ₹1,671

352.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.32 ₹510

Cinema Ticket

$3.69 ₹354

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

$116 ₹11.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,162 ₹111.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.51 ₹1,776

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.91 ₹1,526

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.95 ₹3,449

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.46 ₹2,346

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.9 $91.9

$130 ₹12.5K

-29.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.5 $92.5

$87.2 ₹8,368

6.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₹23.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 $141

$179 ₹17.2K

-21.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,576 ₹535.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 $257

$328 ₹31.4K

-21.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.76

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

Last update for Pyongyang: September 13, 2026

Last update for Patiala: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.9 in Pyongyang versus $130 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 28% higher in Patiala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Pyongyang versus $16.00 in Patiala. Groceries tell a different story – $45.00 in Pyongyang vs $97.0 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

Pyongyang costs about 13% more than Patiala, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $632 per month in Pyongyang and $557 in Patiala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Patiala, 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 $421 in Pyongyang and $372 in Patiala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 115% cheaper in Pyongyang – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $421 in Pyongyang and $372 in Patiala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Patiala – 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 Patiala. 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.