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

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 71.8% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 236.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 93% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 206.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$2.92 $2.92

592.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$23.62 $23.62

220.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$12.85 $12.85

-10.74%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$1.14 $1.14

350.00%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.25 $2.25

16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.19 $1.19

79.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$13.73 $13.73

-55.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$2.97 $2.97

138.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.12 $2.12

76.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.67 $1.67

173.65%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.41 $2.41

74.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$4.59 $4.59

183.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$2.36 $2.36

416.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$5.74 $5.74

181.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$6.86 $6.86

-22.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$4.67 $4.67

-63.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.30 $2.30

99.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.28 $2.28

117.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.57 $3.57

-15.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.55 $3.55

-14.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.32 $2.32

-6.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.44 $0.44

397.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$4.69 $4.69

116.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$8.15 $8.15

86.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.14 $1.14

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.36 $2.36

57.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.06 $1.06

133.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$40.31 $40.31

58.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.58 $1.58

133.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.10 $2.10

-16.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$41.18 $41.18

-27.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.72 $0.72

33.33%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

28.73%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$28.4K $28.4K

-7.30%

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

$207 $207

$34.07 $34.07

508.45%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$11.55 $11.55

393.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$45.59 $45.59

56.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$44.05 $44.05

4.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$15.30 $15.30

45.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$8.29 $8.29

70.45%

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

$1,385 $1,385

$110 $110

1158.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$2,185 $2,185

916.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$23.02 $23.02

126.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$29.29 $29.29

45.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$64.8 $64.8

38.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$85.5 $85.5

33.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$96.8 $96.8

1700.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$108 $108

1218.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$1,445 $1,445

95.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$212 $212

1016.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$1,772 $1,772

88.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$1,423 $1,423

83.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$239 $239

1669.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

7.11

-8.44%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for North Korea: January 12, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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