Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Japan 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Japan is 56.2% higher than in China (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Japan is 53.0% higher than in China | |
| Rent Prices in Japan are 40.8% higher than in China | |
| Restaurant Prices in Japan are 43.0% higher than in China | |
| Groceries Prices in Japan are 65.1% higher than in China | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Japan is 33.2% higher than in China | |
Restaurants | China Edit |
Japan Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 CNY (443.07 JPY) |
45.14 CNY (1,000.00 JPY) |
+125.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
160.00 CNY (3,544.56 JPY) |
225.70 CNY (5,000.00 JPY) |
+41.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
35.00 CNY (775.37 JPY) |
35.66 CNY (790.00 JPY) |
+1.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
7.00 CNY (155.07 JPY) |
22.57 CNY (500.00 JPY) |
+222.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
15.00 CNY (332.30 JPY) |
27.08 CNY (600.00 JPY) |
+80.6 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
20.81 CNY (460.98 JPY) |
21.74 CNY (481.54 JPY) |
+4.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.28 CNY (72.69 JPY) |
7.37 CNY (163.25 JPY) |
+124.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
1.99 CNY (44.04 JPY) |
5.26 CNY (116.53 JPY) |
+164.6 % |
Markets | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
12.70 CNY (281.26 JPY) |
10.05 CNY (222.68 JPY) |
-20.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
10.53 CNY (233.21 JPY) |
8.93 CNY (197.79 JPY) |
-15.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.01 CNY (66.77 JPY) |
14.45 CNY (320.08 JPY) |
+379.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
11.15 CNY (247.11 JPY) |
14.58 CNY (322.94 JPY) |
+30.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
41.46 CNY (918.59 JPY) |
35.49 CNY (786.24 JPY) |
-14.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
10.75 CNY (238.13 JPY) |
20.62 CNY (456.73 JPY) |
+91.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
34.60 CNY (766.45 JPY) |
57.91 CNY (1,282.83 JPY) |
+67.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
5.78 CNY (128.15 JPY) |
15.53 CNY (344.14 JPY) |
+168.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
4.03 CNY (89.27 JPY) |
7.85 CNY (173.91 JPY) |
+94.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
4.75 CNY (105.27 JPY) |
13.87 CNY (307.25 JPY) |
+191.9 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
3.80 CNY (84.12 JPY) |
14.14 CNY (313.34 JPY) |
+272.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
2.33 CNY (51.52 JPY) |
8.43 CNY (186.85 JPY) |
+262.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
2.87 CNY (63.51 JPY) |
8.05 CNY (178.34 JPY) |
+180.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
4.20 CNY (93.06 JPY) |
9.05 CNY (200.53 JPY) |
+115.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
3.96 CNY (87.77 JPY) |
6.06 CNY (134.24 JPY) |
+52.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 CNY (1,772.28 JPY) |
54.17 CNY (1,200.00 JPY) |
-32.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
5.82 CNY (129.04 JPY) |
14.16 CNY (313.68 JPY) |
+143.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
11.70 CNY (259.25 JPY) |
18.80 CNY (416.52 JPY) |
+60.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
25.00 CNY (553.84 JPY) |
27.08 CNY (600.00 JPY) |
+8.3 % |
Transportation | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.50 CNY (55.38 JPY) |
9.93 CNY (220.00 JPY) |
+297.2 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
150.00 CNY (3,323.03 JPY) |
389.92 CNY (8,638.17 JPY) |
+159.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
10.00 CNY (221.54 JPY) |
27.08 CNY (600.00 JPY) |
+170.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
4.02 CNY (89.13 JPY) |
36.32 CNY (804.67 JPY) |
+802.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
48.00 CNY (1,063.37 JPY) |
153.47 CNY (3,400.00 JPY) |
+219.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
8.20 CNY (181.73 JPY) |
7.85 CNY (173.81 JPY) |
-4.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
134,900.00 CNY (2,988,511.36 JPY) |
150,856.31 CNY (3,342,000.00 JPY) |
+11.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
118,264.78 CNY (2,619,982.49 JPY) |
116,625.29 CNY (2,583,662.07 JPY) |
-1.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
361.30 CNY (8,003.97 JPY) |
1,128.16 CNY (24,992.77 JPY) |
+212.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
64.63 CNY (1,431.86 JPY) |
175.66 CNY (3,891.58 JPY) |
+171.8 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
78.63 CNY (1,742.02 JPY) |
231.13 CNY (5,120.25 JPY) |
+193.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
298.18 CNY (6,605.77 JPY) |
383.34 CNY (8,492.34 JPY) |
+28.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
108.75 CNY (2,409.10 JPY) |
100.93 CNY (2,235.98 JPY) |
-7.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
45.00 CNY (996.91 JPY) |
85.77 CNY (1,900.00 JPY) |
+90.6 % |
Childcare | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
2,832.22 CNY (62,743.70 JPY) |
2,258.38 CNY (50,031.12 JPY) |
-20.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
123,737.70 CNY (2,741,227.09 JPY) |
89,104.74 CNY (1,973,984.57 JPY) |
-28.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
308.72 CNY (6,839.31 JPY) |
317.58 CNY (7,035.45 JPY) |
+2.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
231.89 CNY (5,137.12 JPY) |
219.50 CNY (4,862.66 JPY) |
-5.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
509.34 CNY (11,283.72 JPY) |
414.24 CNY (9,176.91 JPY) |
-18.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
529.76 CNY (11,736.04 JPY) |
588.81 CNY (13,044.16 JPY) |
+11.1 % |
Rent Per Month | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,858.46 CNY (63,325.04 JPY) |
3,911.05 CNY (86,643.48 JPY) |
+36.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,749.28 CNY (38,752.73 JPY) |
2,605.28 CNY (57,716.22 JPY) |
+48.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
6,275.68 CNY (139,028.58 JPY) |
8,452.78 CNY (187,258.82 JPY) |
+34.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
3,599.82 CNY (79,748.64 JPY) |
5,427.83 CNY (120,245.65 JPY) |
+50.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,986.58 CNY (88,316.72 JPY) |
3,925.14 CNY (86,955.65 JPY) |
-1.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,893.99 CNY (41,958.53 JPY) |
2,163.09 CNY (47,920.01 JPY) |
+14.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | China Edit |
Japan Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6,826.75 CNY (151,236.60 JPY) |
13,907.87 CNY (308,108.43 JPY) |
+103.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 3.80 | 1.80 | -52.8 % |
| Last update: | 21 November 2025 | 21 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1582 | 601 |
Moving to China? Explore:
Moving to Japan? Explore: