Places · North Korea

Living in Pyongyang

North Korea · temperate

🌍

Pyongyang is a big city of roughly 3,000,000 people near the mountains in North Korea. The climate is temperate. It has a lively, popular feel with average safety for the region. A typical month of living costs around $1,680. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is fast enough for full-time remote work. People come here for food and eating out, nightlife, art and culture.

Starlink and satellite internet cannot be used in this country.

Pyongyang at a glance: cost, climate, safety

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People
~3,000,000
💵
Cost / mo
~$1,700
🌡️
Climate
temperate
🛡️
Safety
3/5
🏥
Healthcare
3/5
📶
Internet
5/5
🚶
Walkable
4/5
🍽️
Food
4/5
🌫️
Air
2/5Poor
🚰
Water
2/5Bottled water advised

Who tends to love living in Pyongyang

All parameters

🛡️ Safety3/5
🏥 Healthcare3/5
🏛️ Public healthcare3/5
💳 Private healthcare2/5
📶 Internet5/5
🚶 Walkable4/5
🚌 Transit5/5
🍽️ Food4/5
📚 LibraryA proper library system
🥗 Veg options4/5
🌫️ Air2/5 · 24 µg/m³
🚰 Water2/5 · Bottled water advised
📈 PopularityGrowing
🏠 Rent, 5 yrs+40%
👶 For kids3/5
🛂 Immigration1/5
🏛️ Stability1/5
💸 Tax friendly1/5
🧑‍💻 Business1/5
🕵️ Privacy1/5
🏦 State digital currencyResearch only
🗣️ Free expressionSeverely restricted
₿ Bitcoin1/5
🌈 LGBTQ+1/5
🦂 Dangerous animals1/5
🌱 Fertile soil4/5
🔌 Living off-grid3/5
📸 Tourism4/5
👥 Crowding4/5
✈️ Airport5/5
🛰️ StarlinkNo
⚕️ AbortionRestricted

💉 Childhood vaccines: We could not verify this one

The 194-country survey of vaccination law left North Korea out for lack of any public policy document, and so do we. Coverage itself fell to near zero in 2022 and is being rebuilt with UNICEF.

Source: no public source exists

📈 Popularity & prices: Growing

Accommodation prices have moved about +40% in the last 5 years.

Estimates, for orientation only.

🔭 Where this place is heading

Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.

What to know before moving to Pyongyang

⚠️ The downsides of living in Pyongyang

Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.

Where is Pyongyang?

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to live in Pyongyang, North Korea?

A typical month in Pyongyang costs around $1,680, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.

Is Pyongyang, North Korea safe?

Arcadia rates personal safety in Pyongyang at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable.

What is the internet like in Pyongyang?

Internet in Pyongyang is rated 5 out of 5 for remote work, which is excellent. Starlink is not available in this country.

What is the weather like in Pyongyang?

Pyongyang has a temperate climate. Mountains are close by.

Is healthcare good in Pyongyang?

Healthcare in Pyongyang is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 3/5 and private healthcare 2/5.

How easy is it to move to North Korea?

Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in North Korea at 1 out of 5, which is poor. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.

Is Pyongyang actually right for you?

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