Cost of living comparison

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

Japan is 32.5% more expensive than Jamaica overall.

Restaurants
pay 22.1% less in Japan
Groceries
pay 3.3% less in Japan
Transportation
pay 2.0% more in Japan
Housing
pay 12.2% less in Japan
Childcare
pay 3.4 times more in Japan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.5% less in Japan
Clothing
pay 23.3% more in Japan

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

Japan vs. Jamaica Cost Breakdown

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

pay 22.1% less for restaurants

 
Jamaica
Japan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.25
JMD1,139.11
$6.44
¥965
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.80
JMD1,226.24
$4.94
¥740
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.33
JMD209.11
$0.97
¥145

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pay 3.3% less for groceries

 
Jamaica
Japan
Bread
1 loaf
$2.62
JMD412.17
$1.52
¥228
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.91
JMD929.74
$5.72
¥857
Milk (1 gallon) $13.43
JMD2,110.41
$5.46
¥818

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pay 2.0% more for transportation

 
Jamaica
Japan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.83
JMD759.84
$4.22
¥633
Monthly public transit pass $37.59
JMD5,909.58
$57.82
¥8,663
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $40,601.97
JMD6,382,342.18
$22,042.19
¥3,302,911

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pay 12.2% less for housing

 
Jamaica
Japan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$48.42
JMD7,611.79
$31.09
¥4,659
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $594.87
JMD93,508.60
$500.38
¥74,979
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $355.79
JMD55,927.35
$325.42
¥48,762

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pay 3.4 times more for childcare

 
Jamaica
Japan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $194.86
JMD30,631.30
$288.10
¥43,171
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $2,060.17
JMD323,844.77
$11,095.30
¥1,662,575

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pay 3.5% less for entertainment and sports

 
Jamaica
Japan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.65
JMD416.02
$2.71
¥406
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.05
JMD479.31
$2.78
¥416
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$8.65
JMD1,359.20
$3.98
¥597

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pay 23.3% more for clothing

 
Jamaica
Japan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$24.19
JMD3,801.83
$40.54
¥6,075
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$21.83
JMD3,430.84
$26.82
¥4,018
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$66.00
JMD10,374.59
$54.08
¥8,103

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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: April 2025
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