Moving to North Korea from Arizona

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Arizona to North Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Arizona to North Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — P'yongyang averages 60°F vs 87°F in Phoenix, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to North Korea

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Arizona to North Korea, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
1,049 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in United States live in North Korea · UN DESA

Who's moving to North Korea?

Top countries of origin for North Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Arizona to North Korea.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AZ
33.6%
KP
6.8%

North Korea performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AZ
4.0%
KP
3.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AZ
$58,628
KP
$1,700

Arizona generally does better on employment & economy, though North Korea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AZ
76.3 yrs
KP
71.8 yrs

Arizona performs better than North Korea across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Phoenix Rain: 8.2 in/yr (208 mm)
87° / 63°F

Avg. annual high / low

P'yongyang Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
60° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Phoenix P'yongyang
Jan–Mar 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) 81°/65°F (27°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 50°/31°F (10°/0°C)
View all months
Month Phoenix P'yongyang
Jan 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C)
Feb 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C)
Mar 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C)
Apr 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C)
May 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C)
Jun 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C)
Jul 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C)
Aug 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C)
Sep 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C)
Oct 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C)
Nov 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C)
Dec 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and North Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in North Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check North Korea's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting North Korea

Visa Required
United States passport holders need a visa to enter North Korea.
North Korea passport

North Korea passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
North Korea passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from North Korea?

Usually fine from major cities in North Korea. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in North Korea compared to Arizona?

North Korea performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in North Korea compared to Arizona?

The average high temperature in P'yongyang is 60°F, compared to 87°F in Phoenix. P'yongyang receives around 37.0 in of rainfall per year, while Phoenix gets 8.2 in.

What language do they speak in North Korea?

The official language in North Korea is Korean. In Arizona, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

KP
Population 6,392,017 25,955,138
Currency United States Dollar ($) North Korean Won (KPW)
Languages English Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +850
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911