Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkey and North Korea Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkey and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Turkey vs $88.0 in North Korea, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Turkey vs $140 in North Korea, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,268 per month in Turkey vs $192 in North Korea, rent included.

The cost of living in Turkey is about 1128% higher than in North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Turkey and North Korea are more affordable than the global median – Turkey 19% lower, North Korea 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.90 ₺420

$2.92 $2.92

204.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.67 ₺1,776

$23.33 $23.33

61.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 ₺364

$13.10 $13.10

-41.07%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₺157

$1.14 $1.14

192.11%

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

$1.34 ₺63.1

$2.33 $2.33

-42.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₺22.73

$1.13 $1.13

-57.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₺169

$13.71 $13.71

-73.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 ₺210

$2.83 $2.83

57.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ₺46.49

$1.00 $1.00

-1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₺38.28

$2.16 $2.16

-62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₺103

$1.60 $1.60

36.25%

Eggs

$2.31 ₺109

$2.39 $2.39

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₺465

$4.59 $4.59

114.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 ₺269

$2.25 $2.25

153.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.55 ₺922

$5.69 $5.69

243.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₺63.1

$6.74 $6.74

-80.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺107

$4.60 $4.60

-50.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 ₺57.9

$2.35 $2.35

-47.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₺72.1

$2.35 $2.35

-34.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ₺34.00

$3.39 $3.39

-78.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₺28.94

$3.41 $3.41

-82.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₺49.23

$2.25 $2.25

-53.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₺22.32

$0.48 $0.48

-2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 ₺101

$4.70 $4.70

-54.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.22 ₺529

$8.08 $8.08

38.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₺100

$1.13 $1.13

88.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₺140

$2.32 $2.32

28.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺33.83

$1.02 $1.02

-29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.57 ₺2,196

$41.18 $41.18

13.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₺51.5

$1.53 $1.53

-28.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₺31.07

$2.11 $2.11

-68.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₺367

$42.45 $42.45

-81.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₺55.2

$0.74 $0.74

58.11%

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

$42.5K ₺2.0M

$23.6K $23.6K

80.02%

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

$43.2K ₺2.0M

$29.3K $29.3K

47.41%

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

$69.0 ₺3,256

$34.48 $34.48

100.23%

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

$10.86 ₺512

$11.34 $11.34

-4.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.06 ₺663

$47.07 $47.07

-70.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.31 ₺2,326

$43.36 $43.36

13.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.14 ₺856

$14.76 $14.76

22.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ₺305

$7.99 $7.99

-19.02%

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

$637 ₺30.1K

$111 $111

476.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₺607.8K

$2,153 $2,153

498.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 ₺2,569

$22.90 $22.90

137.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.31 ₺2,090

$28.80 $28.80

53.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ₺5,071

$63.7 $63.7

68.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.7 ₺4,468

$86.7 $86.7

9.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 ₺30.5K

$98.1 $98.1

558.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₺21.0K

$107 $107

316.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 ₺55.3K

$1,478 $1,478

-20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$722 ₺34.0K

$217 $217

233.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,740 ₺82.1K

$1,689 $1,689

3.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 ₺49.9K

$1,421 $1,421

-25.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,087 ₺51.2K

$234 $234

363.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

42.38

7.11

496.06%

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

Last update for Turkey: July 14, 2026

Last update for North Korea: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $527 in Turkey vs $17.00 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $726 in Ankara and $92.0 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $1,041 in Turkey vs $230 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 3000% higher in Turkey.

Dining out costs 650% more in Turkey.

Public transport is 675% more expensive in Turkey.

Salaries are 353% higher in Turkey, and purchasing power comes out stronger in North Korea.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Turkey vs North Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 262% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Turkey, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Turkey consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 262% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in Turkey it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

North Korea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.