Cost of living comparison

 Japan
compared to
 France
France vs. Japan Cost of Living Summary

France is 58.3% more expensive than Japan overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.5 times more in France
Groceries
pay 9.9% more in France
Transportation
pay 17.6% more in France
Housing
pay 39.0% more in France
Childcare
pay 61.1% more in France
Entertainment and Sports
pay 59.5% more in France
Clothing
pay 71.6% more in France

The cost of restaurants, clothing, childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, and transportation in France are more expensive than in Japan. Notably, restaurants is significantly more expensive in France.

France vs. Japan Cost Breakdown

If you lived in France instead of Japan, you would:

pay 2.5 times more for restaurants

 
Japan
France
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.44
¥974
$15.64
€15.14
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.94
¥748
$10.86
€10.52
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.97
¥147
$2.73
€2.65

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pay 9.9% more for groceries

 
Japan
France
Bread
1 loaf
$1.52
¥230
$1.71
€1.66
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.72
¥865
$8.46
€8.19
Milk (1 gallon) $5.46
¥826
$4.52
€4.37

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pay 17.6% more for transportation

 
Japan
France
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.22
¥639
$7.25
€7.02
Monthly public transit pass $57.82
¥8,747
$50.39
€48.79
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $22,042.19
¥3,334,873
$31,262.62
€30,269.78

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pay 39.0% more for housing

 
Japan
France
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$31.09
¥4,704
$30.07
€29.11
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $500.38
¥75,704
$750.17
€726.35
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $325.42
¥49,234
$604.38
€585.19

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pay 61.1% more for childcare

 
Japan
France
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $288.10
¥43,589
$690.26
€668.34
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,095.30
¥1,678,664
$9,163.56
€8,872.55

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pay 59.5% more for entertainment and sports

 
Japan
France
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.71
¥410
$6.20
€6.01
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.78
¥420
$3.01
€2.91
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.98
¥603
$11.83
€11.46

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pay 71.6% more for clothing

 
Japan
France
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$40.54
¥6,134
$89.62
€86.78
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$26.82
¥4,057
$37.76
€36.56
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$54.08
¥8,182
$91.52
€88.61

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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