a scenic view of a valley with a river running through it
Autumnal landscape in Kaesong, North Korea.
Hadan Railway Station, Hadan, North Korea (DPRK)
This is an embassy office of Democratic Peoples Republic of Kor…
Propaganda of North Korea
Arirang Mass Games
UN MemberVisa requiredPop. 25.8M
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North Korea flag

North Korea

Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea · Korean

North Korea

North Korea delivers dirt-cheap living at 40% of global averages — your Western salary stretches to imperial distances in a land of unmatched seclusion and zero crowds.

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CLIMATE
Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea
25°C avg · 2500h sun/yr
CURRENCY
KPW
LANGUAGE
Korean
SAFETY
Safe
#1 globally · Safety index 61/100
COST OF LIVING
Moderate
Cost index 41/100
TIME ZONE
GMT+9
UTC+9

What it's like to live in North Korea

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a highly isolated nation located in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Bordered by China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the...


Cost of living
vs EU Average13% lower than EU average
1-bed apartment, city
KPW88.00Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Dinner for two
KPW3.40Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Monthly groceries
KPW0.79Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Public transit (month)
KPW0.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide
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Your North Korea Roadmap

40+ page personal relocation analysis — visa path, tax strategy, neighbourhood guide, healthcare setup and more.

€29one-time report
What's included
  • Visa & residency path
  • Tax optimisation
  • Neighbourhood guide
  • Healthcare & schools
  • Cost breakdown

Healthcare

  • Healthcare in North Korea is state-controlled and primarily serves its citizens, with limited and basic facilities available for foreigners.
  • While traditionally free for citizens, North Korea is transitioning to a medical insurance model, and hospitals have begun openly posting fees for services as of April 2025.
  • Foreigners and expats are not covered by the national system and must secure comprehensive international health insurance, including robust medical evacuation coverage.
Healthcare guide →
Entry Requirements & Visa Options

North Korea (DPRK) is one of the most restricted destinations in the world. For most foreign travelers, tourist entry is only possible on an organized guided tour arranged through an authorized tour operator; independent tourism is not permitted. In practice, this means visitors must have a DPRK tourist visa issued in advance, usually coordinated by the tour company rather than obtained by the traveler directly. Standard entry documents typically include a passport, printed travel tickets, and the DPRK visa itself....

Digital Nomad Visa available
Retirement visa options
Investment visa from ,
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Travel advisories, hazards, and conflict indicators

Cost of living, housing, income, and purchasing power overview

Income tax, corporate tax, and fiscal overview

Job market, business environment, and work permits

International schools, universities, and curricula

Pension, retirement pathways, and financial planning

Seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours

Population, languages, and ethnic composition

Day-to-day expat life and practical tips

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Community, cultural integration, and expat life

Air quality, green spaces, and sustainability

Political system, government structure, and key policies

Location overview, cost of living index, and purchasing power

Economic and geographic overview at a glance

Community perspectives and expat experiences

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This content was generated using artificial intelligence based on publicly available information. It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or professional advice. Information may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.