Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and China

😐 Solo nomad: Japan is 61.6% more expensive than China without rent, and 80.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Japan is 61.5% more expensive than China without rent, and 63% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Japan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.98 Β₯1,003
$2.71 Β₯19.46
157.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.45 Β₯4,949
$23.77 Β₯171
44.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.39 Β₯775
$4.95 Β₯35.54
8.89%
Cappuccino
$3.25 Β₯467
$2.98 Β₯21.38
9.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 Β₯161
$0.45 Β₯3.22
148.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 Β₯122
$0.27 Β₯1.93
214.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.4 Β₯489
$1.01 Β₯7.24
236.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 Β₯595
$2.04 Β₯14.62
102.94%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Japan
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 Β₯217
$1.78 Β₯12.75
-15.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.59 Β₯228
$1.7 Β₯12.16
-6.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 Β₯647
$0.96 Β₯6.89
369.79%
Eggs
$2.18 Β₯313
$1.57 Β₯11.24
38.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.09 Β₯1,737
$13.35 Β₯95.8
-9.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7 Β₯1,005
$3.37 Β₯24.16
107.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.2 Β₯2,758
$10.53 Β₯75.6
82.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.15 Β₯740
$1.83 Β₯13.11
181.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 Β₯368
$1.28 Β₯9.21
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.69 Β₯673
$1.44 Β₯10.34
225.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 Β₯687
$1.14 Β₯8.19
319.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 Β₯409
$0.75 Β₯5.39
278.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 Β₯387
$0.89 Β₯6.35
202.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 Β₯194
$0.57 Β₯4.12
136.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 Β₯135
$0.57 Β₯4.1
64.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 Β₯592
$3.42 Β₯24.53
20.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.47 Β₯1,217
$11.29 Β₯81
-24.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 Β₯312
$0.84 Β₯6.02
158.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 Β₯425
$1.62 Β₯11.64
82.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Japan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 Β₯225
$0.44 Β₯3.15
256.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58 Β₯8,331
$20.87 Β₯150
177.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 Β₯590
$1.36 Β₯9.78
202.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.93 Β₯421
$0.32 Β₯2.32
815.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.97 Β₯3,443
$6.8 Β₯48.76
252.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 Β₯170
$1.12 Β₯8.06
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K Β₯3.3M
$19.3K Β₯138.2K
18.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K Β₯2.5M
$17.1K Β₯122.8K
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Japan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 Β₯25.5K
$50.7 Β₯363
250.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.06 Β₯3,888
$10.13 Β₯72.7
167.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.77 Β₯5,139
$11.16 Β₯80
220.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Japan
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 Β₯8,589
$39.48 Β₯283
51.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 Β₯2,285
$14.63 Β₯105
8.75%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 Β₯1,919
$6.25 Β₯44.8
113.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Japan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 Β₯49.7K
$412 Β₯2,952
-15.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K Β₯1.9M
$17.6K Β₯126.3K
-24.67%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Japan
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.96 Β₯7,034
$46.06 Β₯330
6.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.1 Β₯4,755
$33.09 Β₯237
0.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.3 Β₯8,942
$71.3 Β₯511
-12.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2 Β₯12.4K
$75.4 Β₯541
14.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Japan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 Β₯86.1K
$444 Β₯3,188
34.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$422 Β₯60.7K
$256 Β₯1,834
65.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 Β₯195.9K
$921 Β₯6,605
48.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$843 Β₯121.1K
$542 Β₯3,889
55.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,944 Β₯853.9K
$6,161 Β₯44.2K
-3.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,290 Β₯472.7K
$2,928 Β₯21K
12.37%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Japan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,009 Β₯288.6K
$940 Β₯6,744
113.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.82
4.06
-55.17%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Japan: November 3, 2025

Last update for China: November 5, 2025

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