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 $1,243 per month in Japan vs $391 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,941 per month in Japan vs $592 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Japan vs $792 in Pakistan, rent included.

The cost of living in Japan is about 218% 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 7% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in Japan ($1,022–$1,701) than in Pakistan ($286–$534), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.86 ¥1,114

$1.81 PKR 503

279.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 ¥5,657

$12.15 PKR 3,374

186.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 ¥906

$4.29 PKR 1,190

29.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 485

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,106

Cappuccino

$3.25 ¥528

$1.74 PKR 482

86.78%

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

$1.09 ¥177

$0.36 PKR 100

202.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥135

$0.21 PKR 58.3

295.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥549

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 ¥689

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 ¥247

$0.78 PKR 216

94.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 ¥261

$0.56 PKR 155

187.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.60 ¥748

$1.21 PKR 337

280.17%

Eggs

$2.21 ¥359

$1.20 PKR 334

84.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.07 ¥1,961

$5.69 PKR 1,579

112.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 ¥1,094

$2.84 PKR 789

136.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.13 ¥3,107

$4.09 PKR 1,135

367.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 ¥870

$1.00 PKR 279

435.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$0.61 PKR 170

324.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 ¥754

$0.76 PKR 212

510.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 ¥813

$0.52 PKR 145

861.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 ¥476

$0.38 PKR 106

671.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$0.51 PKR 143

407.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥222

$0.38 PKR 106

260.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ¥154

$0.36 PKR 98.8

163.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 559

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 304

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 578

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 ¥664

$1.96 PKR 545

108.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.80 ¥1,430

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥343

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥459

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 ¥243

$0.20 PKR 56.1

650.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 ¥9,636

$7.24 PKR 2,011

719.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥695

$0.84 PKR 232

409.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 ¥482

$0.52 PKR 145

469.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.97 ¥3,895

$1.79 PKR 496

1239.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥192

$0.89 PKR 248

32.58%

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

$23.2K ¥3.8M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

30.41%

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

$17.5K ¥2.8M

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

-26.37%

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

$175 ¥28.5K

$110 PKR 30.5K

59.49%

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

$26.45 ¥4,298

$4.58 PKR 1,270

477.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.77 ¥5,650

$15.58 PKR 4,326

123.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.7 ¥9,540

$13.28 PKR 3,687

342.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.73 ¥2,555

$8.84 PKR 2,456

77.94%

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 ¥2,116

$4.13 PKR 1,148

215.25%

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

$347 ¥56.4K

$39.62 PKR 11.0K

776.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$1,170 PKR 324.9K

1050.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.15 ¥7,986

$15.59 PKR 4,329

215.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.83 ¥5,335

$23.77 PKR 6,601

38.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.7 ¥10.2K

$71.9 PKR 20.0K

-12.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.0 ¥14.1K

$32.15 PKR 8,927

170.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ¥98.7K

$115 PKR 31.9K

428.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 ¥68.0K

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

530.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 ¥221.1K

$274 PKR 76.1K

396.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 ¥134.8K

$163 PKR 45.2K

409.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,522 ¥897.3K

$965 PKR 268.0K

472.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,030 ¥492.4K

$502 PKR 139.4K

503.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,807 ¥293.6K

$186 PKR 51.6K

872.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.82

18.97

-90.41%

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

Last update for Japan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $485 in Japan vs $78.0 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,120 in Tokyo and $199 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $1,839 in Japan vs $181 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 522% higher in Japan.

Dining out costs 218% more in Japan.

Public transport is 671% more expensive in Japan.

Salaries are 916% 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 232% 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 232% 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.