Cost of living comparison
Japan is 43.9% more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 6.0% less in Japan
- Groceries
-
pay 91.4% more in Japan
- Transportation
-
pay 49.9% more in Japan
- Housing
-
pay 11.6% more in Japan
- Childcare
-
pay 2.2 times more in Japan
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 57.9% more in Japan
- Clothing
-
pay 17.8% less in Japan
The cost of childcare, groceries, entertainment and sports, transportation, and housing in Japan are more expensive than in South Africa. Expenses including clothing and restaurants are lower in Japan. Notably, childcare and groceries are significantly more expensive in Japan.
If you lived in Japan instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 6.0% less for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR171.62
|
$6.44
¥924
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR91.25
|
$4.94
¥709
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR18.26
|
$0.97
¥139
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR14.17
|
$0.73
¥105
|
|
pay 91.4% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.95
|
$1.52
¥219
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR70.30
|
$5.72
¥821
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR80.31
|
$5.46
¥783
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR42.60
|
$2.02
¥290
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR38.80
|
$2.73
¥391
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.95
|
$2.17
¥312
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.81
|
$1.02
¥147
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR12.28
|
$1.64
¥236
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR13.36
|
$2.04
¥292
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.59
|
$1.26
¥181
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.64
|
$1.08
¥155
|
|
pay 49.9% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR95.43
|
$4.22
¥606
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR1,000.62
|
$57.82
¥8,297
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR394,192.37
|
$22,042.19
¥3,163,164
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR163.52
|
$25.42
¥3,648
|
|
pay 11.6% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR791.33
|
$31.09
¥4,462
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR7,317.62
|
$500.38
¥71,807
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR6,242.48
|
$325.42
¥46,699
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,537.88
|
$113.04
¥16,222
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,330.56
|
$288.10
¥41,344
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR77,154.68
|
$11,095.30
¥1,592,231
|
|
pay 57.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR40.32
|
$2.71
¥389
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR36.01
|
$2.78
¥399
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR55.55
|
$3.98
¥572
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR564.30
|
$57.72
¥8,282
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR126.65
|
$11.97
¥1,718
|
|
pay 17.8% less for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR912.71
|
$40.54
¥5,818
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR613.24
|
$26.82
¥3,848
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,728.99
|
$54.08
¥7,760
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,556.42
|
$81.66
¥11,719
|
|
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