You’ll find living in North Korea far costlier than official wages imply: average monthly take‑home pay is about $402, while typical expenses run near $1,597. Urban housing, utilities and internet are expensive and often scarce; groceries and informal market purchases push daily costs higher. Public services can carry hidden household costs due to shortages. Rural life is cheaper but lacks services. Keep going and you’ll get detailed breakdowns on housing, food, transport and income.

Overview of Living Costs and Currency in North Korea

One key indicator of daily life in North Korea is how far income stretches: with an average monthly salary of about $402 after taxes, most residents can only cover roughly 0.3 months of living expenses at prevailing prices.

You’ll see the Cost of Living skews high relative to incomes — about $1,597 monthly, 1.4 times the world average and 34th out of 197 countries. That gap forces difficult choices: basic groceries like a liter of milk at $2.52 and a kilogram of rice at $2.64 quickly consume limited cash, and eating out ranges from $5.01 for fast food to $8.47 for a lunch menu or $111 for a dinner for two.

Those figures show consumption is feasible for wealthier households or those with foreign currency access, not for typical earners. When you compare prices to wage capacity, the Cost of Living reveals structural affordability problems driven by wage stagnation and price levels, constraining household welfare and spending patterns.

Housing and Utilities: Prices and Availability

Although centrally planned housing and recent market curbs shape availability, urban rents in North Korea remain high relative to incomes: you’ll pay roughly $786–$869 monthly for a 40 m² one‑bedroom in city centers and about $3,106 for an 80 m² three‑bedroom, reflecting steep premiums for larger units and prime locations.

Centrally guided housing keeps urban rents high—about $786–$869 for 40 m² and $3,106 for 80 m².

You’ll find that housing supply is uneven — state allocations coexist with marketized rentals, and policy shifts can tighten options fast. Utilities add predictable overhead: expect about $81 monthly for basic electricity and water.

If you need connectivity, internet plans at 50 Mbps+ cost roughly $55.60, a nontrivial share of discretionary spending. When evaluating living costs, factor in location, unit size, and policy risk: central apartments cost more, larger units command heavy premiums, and availability can change with government measures.

This analytical view helps you quantify tradeoffs between comfort, cost, and the uncertainty inherent in a centrally influenced housing market.

• City-center one-bedroom: $786–$869
• Three-bedroom (80 m²): $3,106
• Monthly utilities: ~$81
• Internet (50 Mbps+): ~$55.60
• Availability influenced by policy shifts

Food and Groceries: Markets, Rations, and Black Market

Housing costs and irregular utilities eating into budgets leave less room for food, so understanding how North Koreans actually obtain groceries matters for any cost-of-living analysis.

You’ll find that state rations remain part of the picture but often fall short, forcing households to seek supplements. Food and groceries prices vary: milk runs about $2.52 per liter and half-kilogram loaves near $2.63, while protein is pricey—chicken breast can cost roughly $18 per kilogram—reflecting constrained supply and high demand.

After the 1990s collapse, informal Jangmadang markets expanded, becoming primary access points for many.

You’ll encounter legal and illicit flows there: subsidized rations, market purchases, and black-market goods coexist. The markets provide essential resilience, allowing people to diversify sources and adjust spending when staples are scarce or state distributions falter.

For cost-of-living comparisons, factor in unpredictable availability, wide price dispersion across items, and the premium you effectively pay when relying on market or black-market channels.

Transportation and Communication Expenses

Transport and communication costs in North Korea combine low-cost public options with surprisingly steep private and digital prices, shaping how people move and stay connected.

You’ll find transportation fares like a single local ticket at about $0.39, making daily commutes affordable, while a monthly pass near $47 lets you travel freely within a city.

But private travel is costly: an 8 km taxi ride runs roughly $19.20 and gasoline is about $0.89 per liter, so owning or hiring vehicles quickly raises expenses.

On the communication side, internet is limited and pricey; plans offering 50 Mbps+ cost around $55.60 monthly, reflecting scarce infrastructure and controlled access.

These contrasts force you to balance routine, low-cost public options against occasional high private or digital fees, shaping daily choices about work, socializing, and mobility.

• Single local transport: ~$0.39 per trip
• Monthly pass: ~$47 for unlimited city travel
• Taxi (8 km): ~$19.20
• Gasoline: ~$0.89 per liter
• Internet (50+ Mbps): ~$55.60/month

Healthcare, Education, and Public Services Costs

Because healthcare, education, and public services are largely state-run and nominally free, you’ll rarely pay at the point of delivery, but access and quality vary sharply and impose hidden costs.

You mightn’t see direct bills, yet shortages of medicines, equipment, and teaching materials force households to find substitutes, travel, or pay informally for better care and supplies.

Healthcare facilities outside major cities are particularly thin; you’ll face longer trips and limited treatment options, which raises time and transport costs.

Schools provide 11 years of compulsory education with high reported literacy, but ideological curricula and scarce vocational training mean you may need extra tutoring or materials to gain marketable skills.

Public sanitation and infrastructure underfunding creates intermittent services that increase household expenses for water, repairs, or private waste removal.

In short, while official provision looks free, constrained resources translate into indirect expenditures that materially affect your budgeting and access to effective healthcare and education.

Income, Employment, and Typical Household Budgets

Although official wages and employment figures suggest broad labor participation, your typical North Korean household faces a stark mismatch between income and basic costs. You’ll see nominal income figures—about $402 monthly after taxes—fall painfully short of expenses: that covers roughly 0.3 months of basic needs given local price levels.

GDP per capita (~$1,261) confirms low national income relative to global norms, while a labor force of 15.8 million and 72% employment masks concentration in lower-paid sectors. Agriculture employs 47% and services 39%, limiting cash earnings.

Housing costs, such as a $869 one-bedroom in city centers, consume disproportionate shares of budgets. You should thus expect tight household allocations, informal coping strategies, and reliance on non-wage resources.

• Average salary after taxes: ~$402/month
• GDP per capita (nominal): ~$1,261 (2024)
• Labor force: 15.8 million; 72% employed
• Sector split: agriculture 47%, services 39%
• Cost of living index: ~$1,597 (1.4× world average)

Cost Differences Between Cities and Rural Areas

You’ll see clear urban–rural splits in prices across North Korea, with Pyongyang’s indexes outpacing smaller towns and villages.

Housing and utilities in cities—rent near $869 for a one‑bed and about $81 monthly for basic utilities—strain budgets more than rural accommodation.

Food and transport follow the same pattern: restaurant meals and regular local fares are pricier in urban centers, while rural areas face lower everyday costs but limited and sometimes costlier transport options.

Urban Vs Rural Prices

In North Korea, prices in urban centers like Pyongyang can be several times higher than in rural areas, and you’ll feel that gap most in housing, food and services.

The urban premium shapes your standard of living: a city one‑bedroom averages $869, groceries and milk (≈$2.52/L) cost more, and dining or transport push daily expenses up.

Rural areas offer lower nominal prices but limited availability and services.

• Housing: city rents far exceed rural alternatives.
• Food: staples and restaurant meals cost more in urban markets.
• Transport: local tickets are pricier where demand is concentrated.
• Utilities/internet: urban service fees and utility bills are higher.
• Availability: rural lower prices may reflect limited supply and choice.

Housing and Utilities

Because urban demand concentrates services and amenities, you’ll pay noticeably more for housing and utilities in North Korea’s cities than in rural areas.

City-center one-bedroom rents average about $869 versus roughly $786 for cheaper units outside centers, while three-bedroom city-center flats jump to around $3,106, underlining stark urban premiums.

Utilities for an individual run near $81 monthly but fluctuate with building type and location; higher-density urban buildings may have better services but higher shared maintenance costs.

Internet at 50 Mbps+ is roughly $55.60/month, often more accessible in cities, adding to urban living totals.

Food and Transport

Shifting from housing costs to everyday expenses, food and transport show clear urban–rural splits that shape daily budgets.

You’ll notice eating out varies hugely: a simple lunch averages $8.47, while dinner for two can reach $111 in pricier urban restaurants.

Groceries are variable too—milk at $2.52 per liter and rice at $2.64 per kg—so your shopping basket depends on local supply.

• Local transport single ticket: $0.39, affordable for city commutes.
• Monthly transport pass: $47, economical if you travel daily.
• Taxi (8 km): ~$19.20, costly relative to urban public transport.
• Lunch vs. dinner: sharp contrast between modest and upscale dining.
• Rural areas: limited options push you toward higher-cost regional travel.

These contrasts affect your monthly food and transport allocations.

Tips for Travelers and Expats Managing Expenses

Although North Korea’s overall cost of living runs about 1.4 times the global average, you can still control spending by prioritizing housing, food, and communication costs.

Start by comparing housing options: a city-center one-bedroom averages $869, so weigh lower-rent neighborhoods or serviced-stay alternatives against commuting time and transport costs.

Limit dining out—meals for two cost about $111—by using local markets and simple home cooking when possible.

Track utilities and connectivity: expect roughly $81 for utilities and $55.60 for internet; factor these into monthly budgets and choose plans that match your actual needs.

Use cheap public transport—single fares near $0.39—to cut daily costs.

Keep a contingency fund for permit or guide fees unique to North Korea.

Monitor exchange rules and cash availability to avoid unfavorable conversions.

Finally, document monthly spending for three months, adjust priorities, and you’ll manage expenses deliberately rather than reactively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Average Salary in North Korea?

The average salary in North Korea is about $402 per month after taxes. You’ll find that’s far below living costs, reflecting low GDP per capita and persistent income–expense gaps despite occasional policy reforms aiming to improve conditions.

Can a US Citizen Live in North Korea?

You technically can live in North Korea only under strict, government‑approved arrangements; you’ll be heavily monitored, face limited communications, follow local laws and cultural rules, and rely on employer or state provisions for housing, work and essentials.

How Much Does a House Cost in North Korea?

A 1-bedroom will cost you roughly $786–$869, while a 3-bedroom in city centers runs about $3,106 — prices vary by city and state planning, so you’ll weigh higher urban costs against regulated availability.

Is North Korea Cheap or Expensive?

North Korea’s overall cost is expensive — you’d pay about 1.4 times the world average. Housing and dining are especially steep, groceries are pricey, while local transport remains relatively cheap and accessible.

Conclusion

You’ll learn that “cost of living” here reads like an economic parable: official prices exist, but so do rations, remittances and a thriving black market that rewrite what you actually pay. You can crunch numbers on housing, food and transport, but they don’t tell the whole story — social status, access and favors do. So plan budgets like an analyst, expect surprises like a satirist, and remember: money buys less certainty than it pretends to.