Cost of living comparison

 Japan
compared to
 New Jersey, USA
New Jersey vs. Japan Cost of Living Summary

New Jersey is 2.3 times more expensive than Japan overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.6 times more in New Jersey
Groceries
pay 42.5% more in New Jersey
Transportation
pay 34.9% more in New Jersey
Housing
pay 3.2 times more in New Jersey
Childcare
pay 4.1 times more in New Jersey
Entertainment and Sports
pay 88.8% more in New Jersey
Clothing
pay 55.3% more in New Jersey

The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, clothing, and groceries in New Jersey are more expensive than in Japan. Notably, childcare, housing, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in New Jersey.

New Jersey vs. Japan Cost Breakdown

If you lived in New Jersey instead of Japan, you would:

pay 2.6 times more for restaurants

 
Japan
New Jersey
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.44
¥936
$19.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.94
¥718
$11.19
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.97
¥141
$2.49
 

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pay 42.5% more for groceries

 
Japan
New Jersey
Bread
1 loaf
$1.52
¥221
$3.89
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.72
¥832
$7.30
 
Milk (1 gallon) $5.46
¥793
$4.36
 

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pay 34.9% more for transportation

 
Japan
New Jersey
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.22
¥614
$3.49
 
Monthly public transit pass $57.82
¥8,405
$133.88
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $22,042.19
¥3,204,394
$31,750.31
 

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pay 3.2 times more for housing

 
Japan
New Jersey
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$31.09
¥4,520
$58.37
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $500.38
¥72,743
$2,167.23
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $325.42
¥47,308
$1,865.29
 

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pay 4.1 times more for childcare

 
Japan
New Jersey
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $288.10
¥41,883
$1,618.98
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,095.30
¥1,612,985
$28,166.67
 

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pay 88.8% more for entertainment and sports

 
Japan
New Jersey
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.71
¥394
$6.72
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.78
¥404
$4.97
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.98
¥579
$11.57
 

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pay 55.3% more for clothing

 
Japan
New Jersey
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$40.54
¥5,894
$53.04
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$26.82
¥3,899
$45.58
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$54.08
¥7,862
$91.11
 

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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: May 2025
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