Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and North Korea Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,363 per month in United Kingdom vs $89.0 in North Korea, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,474 per month in United Kingdom vs $140 in North Korea, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,585 per month in United Kingdom vs $191 in North Korea, rent included.

United Kingdom costs about 2555% more than North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United Kingdom sits 76% above the global median, while North Korea is 93% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.41 £15.17

$2.96 $2.96

589.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.0 £64.7

$23.49 $23.49

270.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 £7.53

$13.11 $13.11

-22.73%

Cappuccino

$4.70 £3.49

$1.18 $1.18

298.31%

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

$2.36 £1.75

$2.21 $2.21

6.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 £1.30

$1.14 $1.14

54.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.66 £4.95

$14.14 $14.14

-52.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 £4.78

$2.83 $2.83

127.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 £1.27

$0.94 $0.94

80.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 £1.21

$2.08 $2.08

-21.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 £1.70

$1.62 $1.62

41.36%

Eggs

$4.03 £2.99

$2.51 $2.51

60.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.77 £7.26

$4.74 $4.74

106.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 £6.63

$2.34 $2.34

281.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.31 £10.64

$5.96 $5.96

140.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 £2.26

$6.73 $6.73

-54.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 £1.19

$4.75 $4.75

-66.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 £2.11

$2.34 $2.34

21.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 £2.62

$2.25 $2.25

56.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 £1.19

$3.38 $3.38

-52.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 £1.17

$3.50 $3.50

-55.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 £0.87

$2.35 $2.35

-50.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 £1.16

$0.48 $0.48

225.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.03 £14.89

$4.52 $4.52

343.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 £8.10

$7.92 $7.92

37.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 £2.16

$1.15 $1.15

152.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 £2.51

$2.30 $2.30

46.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.17 £2.35

$1.05 $1.05

201.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.2 £70.8

$39.91 $39.91

138.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 £4.05

$1.58 $1.58

244.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 £1.18

$2.03 $2.03

-21.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.31 £20.30

$41.06 $41.06

-33.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 £1.48

$0.72 $0.72

176.39%

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

$37.8K £28.1K

$22.7K $22.7K

66.37%

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

$40.2K £29.9K

$29.5K $29.5K

36.30%

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

$323 £240

$34.83 $34.83

826.10%

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

$17.22 £12.80

$11.58 $11.58

48.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.23 £31.39

$46.48 $46.48

-9.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.03 £34.21

$44.32 $44.32

3.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.67 £11.65

$14.79 $14.79

5.95%

Cinema Ticket

$13.48 £10.02

$8.15 $8.15

65.40%

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

$1,713 £1,274

$112 $112

1429.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K £15.5K

$2,153 $2,153

866.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 £67.8

$22.78 $22.78

300.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.88 £33.36

$28.75 $28.75

56.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 £75.9

$63.0 $63.0

61.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 £77.3

$86.6 $86.6

20.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 £1,053

$99.7 $99.7

1321.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 £841

$110 $110

928.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,308 £1,715

$1,447 $1,447

59.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,839 £1,367

$215 $215

754.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,727 £4,257

$1,755 $1,755

226.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,523 £3,362

$1,445 $1,445

212.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,333 £2,477

$243 $243

1268.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

7.11

-19.13%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026

Last update for North Korea: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,265 in United Kingdom vs $17.00 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $3,019 in London and $93.0 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $3,219 in United Kingdom vs $234 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 7341% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 2000% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 2225% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 1276% higher in United Kingdom, giving North Korea stronger purchasing power.

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

United Kingdom vs North Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 656% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 656% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in United Kingdom 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.