Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Japan vs $449 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,873 per month in Japan vs $677 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,557 per month in Japan vs $904 in Pakistan, rent included.

The cost of living in Japan is about 165% higher than in Pakistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Japan and Pakistan are more affordable than the global median – Japan 13% lower, Pakistan 67% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in Japan ($757–$1,653) than in Pakistan ($300–$589), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.12 ¥956

$2.22 PKR 616

175.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.69 ¥4,794

$14.09 PKR 3,905

117.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 ¥765

$5.31 PKR 1,472

-7.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 PKR 585

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PKR 1,129

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥499

$1.97 PKR 547

62.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ¥182

$0.34 PKR 95.0

244.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥122

$0.22 PKR 60.6

254.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 ¥486

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ¥571

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ¥231

$0.82 PKR 227

80.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥236

$0.62 PKR 173

143.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 ¥752

$1.22 PKR 339

295.08%

Eggs

$2.09 ¥327

$1.23 PKR 340

69.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 ¥1,835

$5.61 PKR 1,556

109.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 ¥1,000

$2.74 PKR 761

133.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.67 ¥2,761

$4.89 PKR 1,356

261.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 ¥743

$1.13 PKR 314

321.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ¥371

$0.66 PKR 184

259.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ¥669

$0.87 PKR 240

391.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 ¥680

$0.58 PKR 160

651.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 ¥427

$0.32 PKR 88.2

753.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ¥409

$0.39 PKR 108

571.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ¥196

$0.35 PKR 96.0

257.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥140

$0.41 PKR 112

119.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 PKR 533

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 PKR 313

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 PKR 631

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ¥619

$2.10 PKR 582

88.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.50 ¥1,328

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ¥308

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ¥400

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ¥219

$0.17 PKR 46.60

723.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ¥8,643

$10.08 PKR 2,794

448.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 ¥553

$0.92 PKR 255

284.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.11 ¥486

$0.53 PKR 147

486.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.69 ¥3,075

$2.11 PKR 584

833.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥171

$1.22 PKR 339

-10.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ¥3.4M

$18.2K PKR 5.0M

19.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.2K ¥2.5M

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

-35.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$158 ¥24.6K

$106 PKR 29.4K

48.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.79 ¥3,873

$5.27 PKR 1,462

370.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ¥5,071

$15.28 PKR 4,236

112.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ¥8,253

$15.96 PKR 4,423

231.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 ¥2,767

$10.70 PKR 2,967

65.51%

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 ¥1,970

$4.36 PKR 1,209

189.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$562 ¥87.7K

$42.86 PKR 11.9K

1210.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ¥1.8M

$1,314 PKR 364.2K

779.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.40 ¥7,092

$15.45 PKR 4,282

193.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.46 ¥4,447

$23.06 PKR 6,392

23.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,467

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

-20.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.8 ¥12.2K

$32.87 PKR 9,111

136.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 ¥89.5K

$134 PKR 37.2K

327.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 ¥59.2K

$75.4 PKR 20.9K

402.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 ¥209.0K

$295 PKR 81.7K

353.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$752 ¥117.5K

$168 PKR 46.5K

348.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,535 ¥864.8K

$1,000 PKR 277.3K

453.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,846 ¥444.6K

$524 PKR 145.3K

442.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,055 ¥321.0K

$189 PKR 52.4K

986.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

13.99

-85.35%

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

Last update for Japan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $490 in Japan vs $122 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,230 in Tokyo and $277 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $1,876 in Japan vs $182 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 302% higher in Japan.

Dining out costs 154% more in Japan.

Public transport is 500% more expensive in Japan.

Salaries are 931% higher in Japan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Japan.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Japan vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 171% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Japan, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Japan consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Pakistan, contributing to the overall 171% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Pakistan, but in Japan it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Pakistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.