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 74.1% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 243.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 86.1% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 209.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$2.84 $2.84

603.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$23.81 $23.81

213.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 $11.40

$12.89 $12.89

-11.56%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$1.13 $1.13

375.22%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.34 $2.34

12.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.18 $1.18

74.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$13.62 $13.62

-56.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$2.87 $2.87

144.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.19 $2.19

62.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.66 $1.66

184.94%

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$2.53 $2.53

69.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$4.73 $4.73

175.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$2.28 $2.28

435.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.36 $16.36

$5.86 $5.86

179.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$7.06 $7.06

-26.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$4.59 $4.59

-62.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.28 $2.28

101.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.24 $2.24

121.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.37 $3.37

-11.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.57 $3.57

-14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.34 $2.34

-3.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.44 $0.44

393.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$4.54 $4.54

116.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$8.24 $8.24

84.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.17 $1.17

63.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.38 $2.38

50.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.01 $1.01

146.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 $66.1

$40.81 $40.81

61.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.51 $1.51

152.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.04 $2.04

-12.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.48 $29.48

$41.73 $41.73

-29.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.72 $0.72

26.39%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$22.7K $22.7K

29.80%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$29.0K $29.0K

-9.89%

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

$206 $206

$35.27 $35.27

484.69%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$11.62 $11.62

389.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.8 $72.8

$45.37 $45.37

60.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 $45.23

$43.18 $43.18

4.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.84 $21.84

$15.24 $15.24

43.31%

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$8.32 $8.32

65.75%

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

$1,355 $1,355

$108 $108

1156.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K $22.6K

$2,153 $2,153

947.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$23.28 $23.28

120.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.37 $42.37

$28.82 $28.82

47.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$64.4 $64.4

37.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$85.1 $85.1

35.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,763 $1,763

$97.9 $97.9

1701.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 $1,432

$108 $108

1223.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,827 $2,827

$1,457 $1,457

94.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 $2,358

$220 $220

973.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,391 $3,391

$1,773 $1,773

91.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,441 $1,441

81.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$242 $242

1690.82%

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for North Korea: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

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

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

United States

North Korea

United States

North Korea

Similar countries

🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇮🇪 Ireland

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

🇬🇱 Greenland

🇬🇮 Gibraltar

🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands

🇦🇬 Antigua And Barbuda

🇳🇷 Nauru