Cost of living comparison
Japan is 35.6% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 60.5% less in Japan
- Groceries
-
pay 12.9% less in Japan
- Transportation
-
pay 4.5% more in Japan
- Housing
-
pay 56.1% less in Japan
- Childcare
-
pay 64.5% less in Japan
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.7% less in Japan
- Clothing
-
pay 29.2% 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 United States, you would:
pay 60.5% less for restaurants
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$6.44
¥1,005
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$4.94
¥771
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$0.97
¥151
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$0.73
¥114
|
|
pay 12.9% less for groceries
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$1.52
¥238
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$5.72
¥892
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$5.46
¥851
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$2.02
¥315
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$2.73
¥425
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$2.17
¥339
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$1.02
¥160
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.64
¥256
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$2.04
¥318
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$1.26
¥197
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.08
¥169
|
|
pay 4.5% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.22
¥659
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$57.82
¥9,021
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$22,042.19
¥3,439,135
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$25.42
¥3,967
|
|
pay 56.1% less for housing
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$31.09
¥4,851
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$500.38
¥78,071
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$325.42
¥50,773
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$113.04
¥17,637
|
|
pay 64.5% less for childcare
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$288.10
¥44,951
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$11,095.30
¥1,731,146
|
|
pay 30.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$2.71
¥422
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$2.78
¥433
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$3.98
¥622
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$57.72
¥9,005
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$11.97
¥1,868
|
|
pay 29.2% less for clothing
|
United States
|
Japan
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$40.54
¥6,326
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$26.82
¥4,184
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$54.08
¥8,437
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$81.66
¥12,742
|
|
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