[imText1]In North Korea, there has been a sharp rise in the price of domestic rice.
In mid May, the price of rice in North Pyongan province was 1,300 won ($0.43) a kg. Compared to the price in May 2005, it rose 500 won ($0.17). In Jangmadang, there is a rumor that rice will rise to 2,000 won ($0.67), so it seems that it’s just a matter of time before rice becomes more expensive.
The reason for the rising cost of rice is simple: a shortage of rice. The rice stored in autumn has begun to run out and there are not enough edible plants to go around. North Korea calls this period the Spring Austerity Season. This is considered the hardest season for North Koreans.
The average wage of North Koreans is 3,000 won ($1), meaning that a family of four would have to live off of 1.5kg of rice a month. People struggle to survive by doing business, digging up edible plants, getting help from relatives living in China, and selling scrap iron.
The following list shows prices from North Pyongan province in March, illustrating the huge difference from this year’s prices. Prices vary the most among food and groceries.
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Groceries |
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Rice |
1kg 800won – March 7 / 1,300 won in May |
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1kg 700won(730won by wholesale) – May 21~31 |
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Corn |
450 ~ 500won |
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Pork |
1kg – 4,000won |
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Beef |
1kg – 6,500won |
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Duck meat |
1kg – 4,500won |
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Goat meat |
1kg – 4,500won |
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Mutton |
1kg – 4,000won |
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Egg |
Per one – 150won |
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Edible oil |
White |
1kg – 2300won |
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Yellow(bean oil) |
1kg – 2,650won |
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Seasoning |
Ajinomoto made in Japan : 450g-2,400won(2,260won by wholesale) |
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Gaedan made in China : 450g 2,150won(2,050won by wholesale) |
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Clothes |
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Underwear |
Minye, for woman, made in China – 17yuan |
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Bosuk, for woman, made in China – 21yuan |
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Gyeongpum, for man, made in china – 26yuan |
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Soanda, for man, made in China – 31yuan |
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Socks |
Nanais, one pair – 1,050won |
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Bubu made in China, one pair – 1,250won |
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Shoes |
Man’s hide shoes, fair average quality, made in China – 60yuan |
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Man’s hide shoes, lower-grade quality, made in China – 50yuan |
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Goods related with a Computer |
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Monitor 17″ |
Retail price – 110~120 dollars, Wholesale price – 90 dollars |
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Printer |
65~70 dollars |
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diskette |
5,000won per ten |
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Keyboard |
20dollars |
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Mouse |
5dollars |
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Snacks or Side dishes(March 28 ~31) |
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Roasted chicken |
6,500won~8,000won per one |
Potato |
1kg – 400won |
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Roasted duck |
9,000won~12,000won per one |
Beans |
1kg – 700won |
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Noodle |
1Box – 6,750won |
Flour |
1kg – 750won(690won by wholesale) |
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Confectionery |
1 box – 4,700won |
Butter powder |
1kg – 5,000won |
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Rice cake |
1box – 8,000won |
Chinese noodle |
1kg – 2,000won |
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Dry squid |
1kg – 8,800won |
Wild walnut powder |
25g – 400won |
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Sweet potato |
1kg – 300won |
Milk powder |
400g – 5,000won |
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Korean noodle |
750g – 2,400won |
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Fruits (March 28 ~ 31) |
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Mandarin |
1kg – 1,800won |
Water melon |
3kg – 9,000won |
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Tomato |
1kg – 2,000won |
Strawberry |
1 box – 9,000won |
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Banana |
1 cluster – 5,500won |
Pear |
1kg – 1,200won |
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Apple |
1kg – 1,200won |
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Leisure (March 28 ~ 31) |
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Movie |
50won |
Karaoke |
1 hour – 5,000won |
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Internet cafe |
1 hour – 1,000won |
Admission fee for Sauna |
2,500won |
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Pool |
1 person – 70won |
Film |
9,000won ~ 15,000won |
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Mangyeongdae Playground |
Adult – 50won, Child – 20won |
Print of a photograph |
10 ~ 18cm : 800won |
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A comic book |
1,500won (lending – 100won) |
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Taxes and Exchange Rate (March 7 ~ 31) |
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Exchange Rate |
100dollars |
March 13 |
310,000won |
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March 18 |
298,000won |
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March 19 |
297,000won |
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March 31 |
299,500won |
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100yuan |
March 19 |
37,100won |
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March 31 |
37,500won |
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The present |
37,600won |
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Electronic fee : using for 4 light bulb, a TV, a refrigerator, a recorder(3months) – 600won |
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Water fee – 10won per capital(3months) |
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Medicines and Medical Instruments |
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Anodyne |
1 pill – 75won |
Sphygmomanometer, Stethoscope |
25,000won |
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Aspirin |
12 pills – 140won |
1 bottle of 5% Glucose |
580won |
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Antibiotics |
1 pill 300won(Made in China-30won) |
A acupuncture needles case |
10won |
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Cold medicines |
1 pill – 30~50won |
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School Things |
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Pencil |
50won |
Pencil case |
500 ~ 700won |
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Ball pen |
150 ~ 250won |
Schoolbag |
6,000won |
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Notebook |
350won |
Mechanical pencil |
1,200won |
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Eraser |
300won |
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Entrance fee for Shinuiju Medical college including bribe costs |
200 ~300 dollars |
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Money due of private computer shop per meonth |
200 ~ 300dollars |
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Housing Prices |
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Single story house with 2rooms, 1kitchen in a city |
Monthly rent 20,000won |
Middle quality apartment with 2rooms, 1kitchen |
3,000 ~ 3,500dollars |
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Rent for a 110 square meters Karaoke |
40,000won per month |
High quality apartment with 3rooms, 1kitchen |
70,000dollars |
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Single story house with 2rooms, 1kitchen |
1,500dollars |
Single story house with 3rooms, 1kitchen(660㎡) |
3,000dollars |
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Others (March 28 ~ 31) |
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Sanitary napkin |
500 ~ 1,000 per one |
Cosmetics(Cream, Toner) |
Made in S.Korea-10,000won, Made in China-35,000won |
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3 kinds of toner set |
42,000won |
Small size gas range |
27,000won(25,000won by wholesale) |
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3 kinds of Aloe set |
42000won |
Auto bike |
150 ~ 200dollars |
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TV |
Sony, used, made in Japan – 680yuan |
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Gukhwa, used, made in China – 350yuan |
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