Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $838 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $22,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
40

Cost of Living Index in North Korea
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North Korea Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇰🇵 North Korea

$838

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Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in North Korea

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in North Korea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $838 in North Korea, rent included.

United States $2,734
North Korea $838

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $1,313 in North Korea, rent included.

United States $3,985
North Korea $1,313

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $1,788 in North Korea, rent included.

United States $5,235
North Korea $1,788

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in North Korea ($415–$709), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 226% higher than in North Korea on average.

The United States sits 101% above the global median, while North Korea is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$2.86 $2.86

600.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$22.87 $22.87

249.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$19.38 $19.38

-39.11%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$1.09 $1.09

409.17%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$2.21 $2.21

20.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.21 $1.21

79.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$13.17 $13.17

-53.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.42 $3.42

132.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.88 $0.88

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.47 $2.47

45.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.56 $1.56

189.74%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$2.99 $2.99

43.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$5.04 $5.04

162.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$3.89 $3.89

223.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$5.68 $5.68

209.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$6.07 $6.07

-12.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$4.95 $4.95

-65.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.20 $2.20

101.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.26 $2.26

111.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.45 $4.45

-33.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.49 $4.49

-29.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.22 $2.22

-0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.46 $0.46

410.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$4.54 $4.54

141.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$7.76 $7.76

93.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.13 $1.13

82.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.18 $2.18

73.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.00 $1.00

94.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$38.76 $38.76

53.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.47 $1.47

143.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.19 $2.19

-14.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$40.90 $40.90

-27.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.70 $0.70

45.71%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$22.2K $22.2K

29.52%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

-6.20%

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

$218 $218

$34.10 $34.10

539.18%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$10.98 $10.98

468.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$44.81 $44.81

66.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$58.2 $58.2

-28.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$14.76 $14.76

54.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$7.90 $7.90

86.08%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$105 $105

1321.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$2,086 $2,086

1110.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$21.90 $21.90

148.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$28.28 $28.28

51.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$60.7 $60.7

55.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$83.1 $83.1

36.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$93.9 $93.9

1667.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$106 $106

1176.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$1,404 $1,404

91.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$205 $205

959.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$1,698 $1,698

93.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$1,380 $1,380

79.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$230 $230

1768.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

7.11

-7.88%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for North Korea: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

North Korea

$106 12.6% 92.2% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

North Korea

$246 29.3% 40.8% $170

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

North Korea

$90 10.7% 74.7% $265

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

North Korea

$180 21.5% 45% $148

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

North Korea

$87 10.4% 36.3% $50

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

North Korea

$55 6.6% 31.2% $25

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

North Korea

$74 8.8% 3.9% $2.8

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $89 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $88 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $228 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1720% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 159% more in the United States.

Public transport is 66% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 20 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇰🇵 North Korea

🕒 Local time

05:29 5:29 AM

18:29 6:29 PM

13 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

26,418,204

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

United States North Korea 11,060 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
North Korea

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 69% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $89 in North Korea.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in North Korea, adding to the overall 226% price gap.

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

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