🇰🇵Cost of Living in Pyongyang
North Korea · Population: 2,870,000 · Cost Index: 35/100
Cost of Living in Pyongyang
North Korea · Asia
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, a showcase city of grand monuments, wide boulevards, and monumental architecture designed to project the state's ideology. Access to the city is heavily restricted for foreigners, and reliable cost-of-living data is extremely limited.
2,870,000
Population
35
Cost Index
45
Safety Index
20
Quality of Life
Average Monthly Cost: $700 (single person, excluding rent)
Cost Breakdown
Housing
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$400.001-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$200.003-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$700.003-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$380.00Food & Groceries
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$5.00Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$25.00McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$6.00Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$3.00Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$1.00Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.50Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$2.50Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$6.00Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$3.00Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$4.00Transportation
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$2.00One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.05Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$1.00Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.50Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.80Utilities
Basic Utilities (85m² Apartment)(per month)
$25.00Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$10.00Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$50.00Healthcare
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$5.00Dentist Visit(per visit)
$8.00Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$3.00Entertainment
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$20.00Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$2.00Cappuccino(per cup)
$3.00Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$3.00Clothing
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$50.00Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$30.00Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$70.00Compare Pyongyang with another city
See how Pyongyang stacks up against any other city in our database.
Quick Facts
- Currency
- KPW
- Language
- Korean
- Cost Index
- 35/100
- Safety Index
- 45/100
- Quality of Life
- 20/100
Data last updated: 2026-01-15. Prices are approximate and shown in USD.