Cost of living comparison
Japan is 42.5% cheaper than California.
- Restaurants
-
pay 64.2% less in Japan
- Groceries
-
pay 20.6% less in Japan
- Transportation
-
pay 4.8% less in Japan
- Housing
-
pay 63.0% less in Japan
- Childcare
-
pay 73.5% less in Japan
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 40.5% less in Japan
- Clothing
-
pay 30.8% less in Japan
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, clothing, and groceries are lower in Japan.
If you lived in Japan instead of California, you would:
pay 64.2% less for restaurants
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.02
|
$6.44
¥965
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.52
|
$4.94
¥740
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
|
$0.97
¥145
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
|
$0.73
¥110
|
|
pay 20.6% less for groceries
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.14
|
$1.52
¥228
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.95
|
$5.72
¥857
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.61
|
$5.46
¥818
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.33
|
$2.02
¥302
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.70
|
$2.73
¥409
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.34
|
$2.17
¥326
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$1.02
¥153
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$1.64
¥246
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$2.04
¥305
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.39
|
$1.26
¥190
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.08
¥162
|
|
pay 4.8% less for transportation
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
|
$4.22
¥633
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.05
|
$57.82
¥8,663
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,005.28
|
$22,042.19
¥3,302,911
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.07
|
$25.42
¥3,810
|
|
pay 63.0% less for housing
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.54
|
$31.09
¥4,659
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,371.29
|
$500.38
¥74,979
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,055.18
|
$325.42
¥48,762
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$171.68
|
$113.04
¥16,938
|
|
pay 73.5% less for childcare
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,682.51
|
$288.10
¥43,171
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,905.75
|
$11,095.30
¥1,662,575
|
|
pay 40.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$2.71
¥406
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.34
|
$2.78
¥416
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.91
|
$3.98
¥597
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.35
|
$57.72
¥8,648
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.41
|
$11.97
¥1,794
|
|
pay 30.8% less for clothing
|
California
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.77
|
$40.54
¥6,075
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.15
|
$26.82
¥4,018
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.15
|
$54.08
¥8,103
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
|
$81.66
¥12,237
|
|
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