Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and United States

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in Japan:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 38.5% higher than in Japan (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 66.8% higher than in Japan
Rent Prices in United States are 181.3% higher than in Japan
Restaurant Prices in United States are 128.2% higher than in Japan
Groceries Prices in United States are 27.4% higher than in Japan
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 26.2% higher than in Japan

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	Japan Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	1,000.00 ¥ (6.59 $)	3,035.07 ¥ (20.00 $)	+203.5 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	5,000.00 ¥ (32.95 $)	11,381.51 ¥ (75.00 $)	+127.6 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	779.56 ¥ (5.14 $)	1,669.29 ¥ (11.00 $)	+114.1 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	500.00 ¥ (3.29 $)	910.52 ¥ (6.00 $)	+82.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	600.00 ¥ (3.95 $)	1,062.27 ¥ (7.00 $)	+77.0 %
Cappuccino (regular)	465.81 ¥ (3.07 $)	787.18 ¥ (5.19 $)	+69.0 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	154.62 ¥ (1.02 $)	385.28 ¥ (2.54 $)	+149.2 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	113.79 ¥ (0.75 $)	314.55 ¥ (2.07 $)	+176.4 %
Markets	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	823.68 ¥ (5.43 $)	606.36 ¥ (4.00 $)	-26.4 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	206.36 ¥ (1.36 $)	497.09 ¥ (3.28 $)	+140.9 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	263.68 ¥ (1.74 $)	316.27 ¥ (2.08 $)	+19.9 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	317.66 ¥ (2.09 $)	570.59 ¥ (3.76 $)	+79.6 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	780.66 ¥ (5.14 $)	890.76 ¥ (5.87 $)	+14.1 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	439.85 ¥ (2.90 $)	827.59 ¥ (5.45 $)	+88.2 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	1,200.38 ¥ (7.91 $)	1,105.65 ¥ (7.29 $)	-7.9 %
Apples (1 lb)	341.86 ¥ (2.25 $)	362.84 ¥ (2.39 $)	+6.1 %
Banana (1 lb)	164.92 ¥ (1.09 $)	115.37 ¥ (0.76 $)	-30.0 %
Oranges (1 lb)	310.91 ¥ (2.05 $)	309.87 ¥ (2.04 $)	-0.3 %
Tomato (1 lb)	309.77 ¥ (2.04 $)	339.07 ¥ (2.23 $)	+9.5 %
Potato (1 lb)	183.96 ¥ (1.21 $)	204.28 ¥ (1.35 $)	+11.0 %
Onion (1 lb)	166.69 ¥ (1.10 $)	211.97 ¥ (1.40 $)	+27.2 %
Lettuce (1 head)	194.26 ¥ (1.28 $)	333.28 ¥ (2.20 $)	+71.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	131.43 ¥ (0.87 $)	335.54 ¥ (2.21 $)	+155.3 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	1,200.00 ¥ (7.91 $)	2,276.30 ¥ (15.00 $)	+89.7 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	305.50 ¥ (2.01 $)	288.71 ¥ (1.90 $)	-5.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	419.97 ¥ (2.77 $)	538.66 ¥ (3.55 $)	+28.3 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	600.00 ¥ (3.95 $)	1,517.53 ¥ (10.00 $)	+152.9 %
Transportation	Japan Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	220.00 ¥ (1.45 $)	379.38 ¥ (2.50 $)	+72.4 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	8,000.00 ¥ (52.72 $)	9,863.98 ¥ (65.00 $)	+23.3 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	600.00 ¥ (3.95 $)	569.08 ¥ (3.75 $)	-5.2 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	724.21 ¥ (4.77 $)	424.91 ¥ (2.80 $)	-41.3 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	3,400.00 ¥ (22.40 $)	4,552.60 ¥ (30.00 $)	+33.9 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	647.93 ¥ (4.27 $)	535.63 ¥ (3.53 $)	-17.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	3,342,000.00 ¥ (22,022.56 $)	5,111,161.67 ¥ (33,680.68 $)	+52.9 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	2,559,134.57 ¥ (16,863.76 $)	3,972,140.08 ¥ (26,174.95 $)	+55.2 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	25,809.94 ¥ (170.08 $)	31,406.36 ¥ (206.96 $)	+21.7 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	3,915.31 ¥ (25.80 $)	8,503.75 ¥ (56.04 $)	+117.2 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	5,047.40 ¥ (33.26 $)	10,777.72 ¥ (71.02 $)	+113.5 %
Sports And Leisure	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	8,639.57 ¥ (56.93 $)	7,099.29 ¥ (46.78 $)	-17.8 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	2,369.74 ¥ (15.62 $)	3,177.76 ¥ (20.94 $)	+34.1 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	1,900.00 ¥ (12.52 $)	2,124.55 ¥ (14.00 $)	+11.8 %
Childcare	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	54,364.67 ¥ (358.24 $)	209,233.49 ¥ (1,378.77 $)	+284.9 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	2,004,070.93 ¥ (13,206.09 $)	3,442,173.60 ¥ (22,682.66 $)	+71.8 %
Clothing And Shoes	Japan Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	6,708.05 ¥ (44.20 $)	7,924.13 ¥ (52.22 $)	+18.1 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	4,774.68 ¥ (31.46 $)	6,492.92 ¥ (42.79 $)	+36.0 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	8,725.85 ¥ (57.50 $)	13,557.27 ¥ (89.34 $)	+55.4 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	12,415.56 ¥ (81.81 $)	17,319.21 ¥ (114.13 $)	+39.5 %
Rent Per Month	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	88,123.43 ¥ (580.70 $)	266,404.83 ¥ (1,755.51 $)	+202.3 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	59,601.91 ¥ (392.75 $)	219,906.78 ¥ (1,449.11 $)	+269.0 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	196,389.67 ¥ (1,294.14 $)	446,882.27 ¥ (2,944.79 $)	+127.5 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	117,212.59 ¥ (772.39 $)	364,505.02 ¥ (2,401.95 $)	+211.0 %
Buy Apartment Price	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	92,861.30 ¥ (611.92 $)	50,965.01 ¥ (335.84 $)	-45.1 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	53,161.94 ¥ (350.32 $)	40,037.43 ¥ (263.83 $)	-24.7 %
Salaries And Financing	Japan Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	319,161.10 ¥ (2,103.15 $)	671,801.93 ¥ (4,426.93 $)	+110.5 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	1.84	6.57	+257.4 %
Last update:	December 2024	December 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	697	15618

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