Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and China 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in China is 36.1% lower than in Japan (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in China is 34.7% lower than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in China are 29.0% lower than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in China are 30.7% lower than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in China are 39.4% lower than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in China is 24.8% lower than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
China Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
1,000.00 JPY (45.14 CNY) |
443.07 JPY (20.00 CNY) |
-55.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
5,000.00 JPY (225.70 CNY) |
3,433.80 JPY (155.00 CNY) |
-31.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
790.00 JPY (35.66 CNY) |
775.37 JPY (35.00 CNY) |
-1.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
500.00 JPY (22.57 CNY) |
155.07 JPY (7.00 CNY) |
-69.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
600.00 JPY (27.08 CNY) |
332.30 JPY (15.00 CNY) |
-44.6 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
481.54 JPY (21.74 CNY) |
460.70 JPY (20.80 CNY) |
-4.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
163.25 JPY (7.37 CNY) |
72.72 JPY (3.28 CNY) |
-55.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
116.53 JPY (5.26 CNY) |
43.99 JPY (1.99 CNY) |
-62.2 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
222.68 JPY (10.05 CNY) |
281.26 JPY (12.70 CNY) |
+26.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
197.79 JPY (8.93 CNY) |
233.21 JPY (10.53 CNY) |
+17.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
320.08 JPY (14.45 CNY) |
66.77 JPY (3.01 CNY) |
-79.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
322.94 JPY (14.58 CNY) |
247.11 JPY (11.15 CNY) |
-23.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
786.24 JPY (35.49 CNY) |
918.59 JPY (41.46 CNY) |
+16.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
456.73 JPY (20.62 CNY) |
238.13 JPY (10.75 CNY) |
-47.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
1,282.83 JPY (57.91 CNY) |
766.45 JPY (34.60 CNY) |
-40.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
344.14 JPY (15.53 CNY) |
128.15 JPY (5.78 CNY) |
-62.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
173.91 JPY (7.85 CNY) |
89.27 JPY (4.03 CNY) |
-48.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
307.25 JPY (13.87 CNY) |
105.27 JPY (4.75 CNY) |
-65.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
313.34 JPY (14.14 CNY) |
84.12 JPY (3.80 CNY) |
-73.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
186.85 JPY (8.43 CNY) |
51.52 JPY (2.33 CNY) |
-72.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
178.34 JPY (8.05 CNY) |
63.51 JPY (2.87 CNY) |
-64.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
200.53 JPY (9.05 CNY) |
93.06 JPY (4.20 CNY) |
-53.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
134.24 JPY (6.06 CNY) |
87.77 JPY (3.96 CNY) |
-34.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,200.00 JPY (54.17 CNY) |
1,772.28 JPY (80.00 CNY) |
+47.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
313.68 JPY (14.16 CNY) |
129.04 JPY (5.82 CNY) |
-58.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
416.52 JPY (18.80 CNY) |
259.25 JPY (11.70 CNY) |
-37.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
600.00 JPY (27.08 CNY) |
553.84 JPY (25.00 CNY) |
-7.7 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
220.00 JPY (9.93 CNY) |
55.38 JPY (2.50 CNY) |
-74.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
8,638.17 JPY (389.92 CNY) |
3,323.03 JPY (150.00 CNY) |
-61.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
600.00 JPY (27.08 CNY) |
221.54 JPY (10.00 CNY) |
-63.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
804.67 JPY (36.32 CNY) |
89.13 JPY (4.02 CNY) |
-88.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
3,400.00 JPY (153.47 CNY) |
1,063.37 JPY (48.00 CNY) |
-68.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
173.81 JPY (7.85 CNY) |
181.73 JPY (8.20 CNY) |
+4.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
3,342,000.00 JPY (150,856.31 CNY) |
2,988,511.36 JPY (134,900.00 CNY) |
-10.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
2,583,662.07 JPY (116,625.29 CNY) |
2,619,982.49 JPY (118,264.78 CNY) |
+1.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
24,992.77 JPY (1,128.16 CNY) |
8,003.97 JPY (361.30 CNY) |
-68.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
3,891.58 JPY (175.66 CNY) |
1,431.86 JPY (64.63 CNY) |
-63.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
5,120.25 JPY (231.13 CNY) |
1,742.02 JPY (78.63 CNY) |
-66.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
8,492.34 JPY (383.34 CNY) |
6,605.77 JPY (298.18 CNY) |
-22.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
2,235.98 JPY (100.93 CNY) |
2,409.10 JPY (108.75 CNY) |
+7.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
1,900.00 JPY (85.77 CNY) |
996.91 JPY (45.00 CNY) |
-47.5 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
50,031.12 JPY (2,258.38 CNY) |
62,743.70 JPY (2,832.22 CNY) |
+25.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
1,973,984.57 JPY (89,104.74 CNY) |
2,741,227.09 JPY (123,737.70 CNY) |
+38.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
7,035.45 JPY (317.58 CNY) |
6,839.31 JPY (308.72 CNY) |
-2.8 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
4,862.66 JPY (219.50 CNY) |
5,137.12 JPY (231.89 CNY) |
+5.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
9,176.91 JPY (414.24 CNY) |
11,283.72 JPY (509.34 CNY) |
+23.0 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
13,044.16 JPY (588.81 CNY) |
11,736.04 JPY (529.76 CNY) |
-10.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
86,643.48 JPY (3,911.05 CNY) |
63,325.04 JPY (2,858.46 CNY) |
-26.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
57,716.22 JPY (2,605.28 CNY) |
38,752.73 JPY (1,749.28 CNY) |
-32.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
187,258.82 JPY (8,452.78 CNY) |
139,028.58 JPY (6,275.68 CNY) |
-25.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
120,245.65 JPY (5,427.83 CNY) |
79,748.64 JPY (3,599.82 CNY) |
-33.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
86,955.65 JPY (3,925.14 CNY) |
88,316.72 JPY (3,986.58 CNY) |
+1.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
47,920.01 JPY (2,163.09 CNY) |
41,958.53 JPY (1,893.99 CNY) |
-12.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
China Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
308,108.43 JPY (13,907.87 CNY) |
151,236.60 JPY (6,826.75 CNY) |
-50.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 1.80 | 3.80 | +111.7 % |
| Last update: | 21 November 2025 | 21 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 601 | 1583 |
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