Cost of living comparison

 Beijing, China
compared to
 Japan
Japan vs. Beijing Cost of Living Summary

Japan is 41.4% more expensive than Beijing.

Restaurants
pay 68.9% more in Japan
Groceries
pay 85.8% more in Japan
Transportation
pay 2.3 times more in Japan
Housing
pay 55.7% more in Japan
Childcare
pay 57.0% less in Japan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.3% more in Japan
Clothing
pay 29.3% less in Japan

The cost of transportation, groceries, restaurants, housing, and entertainment and sports in Japan are more expensive than in Beijing. Expenses including childcare and clothing are lower in Japan. Notably, transportation and groceries are significantly more expensive in Japan.

Japan vs. Beijing Cost Breakdown

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

pay 68.9% more for restaurants

 
Beijing
Japan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.17
CN¥30.22
$6.44
¥957
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.57
CN¥40.29
$4.94
¥734
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.50
CN¥3.59
$0.97
¥144

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pay 85.8% more for groceries

 
Beijing
Japan
Bread
1 loaf
$1.43
CN¥10.38
$1.52
¥226
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.31
CN¥52.89
$5.72
¥850
Milk (1 gallon) $7.17
CN¥51.90
$5.46
¥811

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pay 2.3 times more for transportation

 
Beijing
Japan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.36
CN¥31.56
$4.22
¥628
Monthly public transit pass $33.40
CN¥241.74
$57.82
¥8,593
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $20,872.18
CN¥151,087.44
$22,042.19
¥3,276,241

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pay 55.7% more for housing

 
Beijing
Japan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$13.28
CN¥96.16
$31.09
¥4,621
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $929.88
CN¥6,731.11
$500.38
¥74,374
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $492.44
CN¥3,564.64
$325.42
¥48,368

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pay 57.0% less for childcare

 
Beijing
Japan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $763.49
CN¥5,526.70
$288.10
¥42,822
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $22,913.01
CN¥165,860.43
$11,095.30
¥1,649,151

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pay 33.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Beijing
Japan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.11
CN¥8.06
$2.71
¥402
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.60
CN¥26.08
$2.78
¥413
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.48
CN¥25.18
$3.98
¥592

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pay 29.3% less for clothing

 
Beijing
Japan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$62.65
CN¥453.54
$40.54
¥6,026
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$34.69
CN¥251.09
$26.82
¥3,986
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$83.45
CN¥604.09
$54.08
¥8,038

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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: March 2025
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