“In Ryanggang Province, if you only sleep at a private inn, the cost of lodging is 4,000 won (47 cents),” she said. “If you include a bottle of alcohol and a meal, the cost is 15,000 won ($1.78).”
They probably give you enough to not totally starve quickly but any luxury like maybe fresh food or say a favorite tea would mean finding some way to pay. Just guessing.
Most interviews with escaped North Koreans state the opposite. They are expected to be very self reliant while not having much to begin with. Farmers typically get most of their grain taken away with no compensation and have to survive by foraging, etc.