North Korea🇰🇵
At a Glance
How North Korea compares across key indices
Safety Index
20/100
Healthcare
57/100
Quality of Life
52/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in North Korea
Safety & Crime
Higher RiskHow safe residents feel in North Korea - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
20/100
Crime Index
80/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in North Korea
North Korea has 97 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,214 in Yuktae-dong to $1,609 in Pyongyang. Yuktae-dong leads on safety, scoring 23/100. Yuktae-dong ranks highest for quality of life at 55/200.
Yuktae-dong
$1,214/mo
Yuktae-dong
23/100
Yuktae-dong
55/200
Pyongyang
72/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyongyang | $1,609 | 15/100 | 50/200 | 72/100 | 71 |
| Hamhŭng | $1,340 | 19/100 | 53/200 | 61/100 | 61 |
| Namp’o | $1,327 | 19/100 | 53/200 | 61/100 | 61 |
| Sunch’ŏn | $1,325 | 19/100 | 53/200 | 61/100 | 60 |
| Hŭngnam | $1,309 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Kaesŏng | $1,308 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Wŏnsan | $1,307 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Chongjin | $1,307 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Man’gyŏngdae-ri | $1,305 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Kaech’ŏn | $1,305 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 60/100 | 59 |
| Sariwŏn-si | $1,303 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 59/100 | 59 |
| Sinŭiju | $1,299 | 20/100 | 53/200 | 59/100 | 59 |
| Tŏkch’ŏn | $1,286 | 21/100 | 54/200 | 59/100 | 58 |
| Haeju | $1,282 | 21/100 | 54/200 | 58/100 | 58 |
| Kanggye | $1,278 | 21/100 | 54/200 | 58/100 | 58 |
| Changam-ch’on | $1,278 | 21/100 | 54/200 | 58/100 | 57 |
| Hyesan | $1,272 | 21/100 | 54/200 | 58/100 | 57 |
| Paech’ŏn-ŭp | $1,262 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Sinp’o | $1,258 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Songnim-ni | $1,258 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Ch’ŏngdan-ŭp | $1,254 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Sinch’ŏn-ŭp | $1,254 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Paek'ak | $1,246 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Chaeryŏng-ni | $1,246 | 22/100 | 54/200 | 57/100 | 56 |
| Manp’o | $1,242 | 22/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Ŭllyul | $1,237 | 22/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Kangnyŏng | $1,236 | 22/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Kangsŏn | $1,233 | 22/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| P’yŏngsŏng | $1,232 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Hwasŏng | $1,232 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Myŏnggan-dong | $1,232 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Hyesan-dong | $1,230 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 55 |
| Ŭnch’ŏn-ŭp | $1,229 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 56/100 | 54 |
| Kwail-ŭp | $1,225 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Ŭndŏk | $1,225 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Ŏrang | $1,224 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Samch’ŏn | $1,222 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Sinwŏn-ŭp | $1,220 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Pongch’ŏn-ŭp | $1,217 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
| Yuktae-dong | $1,214 | 23/100 | 55/200 | 55/100 | 54 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for North Korea
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Environment
ModerateAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in North Korea
Pollution Index
60/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
29.9ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Environmental Quality
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in North Korea, answered with data
What is the cost of living in North Korea?
Monthly costs for a single person (including rent) start around $1,232 in P’yŏngsŏng and reach $1,609 in Pyongyang. Costs vary significantly depending on city and lifestyle.
What is the cheapest city in North Korea for expats?
P’yŏngsŏng is the most affordable city in North Korea in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,232 for a single person including rent. Kangsŏn is the next most affordable at $1,233/mo.
Is North Korea safe for expats?
North Korea has a safety index of 20/100, making it worth researching carefully before committing for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, P’yŏngsŏng scores highest on safety at 23/100.
What is the best city in North Korea for expats and digital nomads?
Kangnyŏng ranks highest for quality of life in North Korea, scoring 55/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,236/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, P’yŏngsŏng offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,232/mo.
How good is healthcare in North Korea?
North Korea scores 57/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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