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 $392 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,941 per month in Japan vs $591 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,638 per month in Japan vs $790 in Pakistan, rent included.

Japan costs about 217% more than 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.

Japan has a wider regional cost range ($1,019–$1,684) than Pakistan ($287–$529), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Japan.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 ¥1,082

$1.82 PKR 505

270.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.81 ¥5,580

$12.25 PKR 3,408

184.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 ¥901

$4.27 PKR 1,188

31.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 PKR 1,136

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥547

$1.77 PKR 493

92.66%

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

$1.09 ¥175

$0.34 PKR 93.2

220.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥134

$0.23 PKR 64.2

265.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 ¥550

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 ¥663

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ¥249

$0.77 PKR 214

101.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ¥245

$0.56 PKR 155

173.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ¥726

$1.22 PKR 340

271.31%

Eggs

$2.27 ¥363

$1.21 PKR 337

87.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.11 ¥1,942

$5.68 PKR 1,579

113.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 ¥1,122

$3.00 PKR 835

133.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.78 ¥3,170

$4.29 PKR 1,192

361.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 ¥858

$1.02 PKR 284

424.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ¥420

$0.62 PKR 174

322.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 ¥749

$0.77 PKR 213

506.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 ¥760

$0.49 PKR 138

867.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ¥457

$0.35 PKR 98.2

714.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ¥430

$0.48 PKR 134

458.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥215

$0.38 PKR 106

252.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ¥152

$0.36 PKR 99.7

163.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.91 PKR 532

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 PKR 304

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 PKR 556

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ¥662

$1.96 PKR 546

110.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ¥1,328

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ¥348

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ¥472

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 ¥250

$0.15 PKR 42.97

940.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.7 ¥9,412

$7.14 PKR 1,986

722.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 ¥682

$0.85 PKR 237

400.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ¥463

$0.51 PKR 143

466.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.36 ¥3,745

$1.81 PKR 503

1190.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥188

$0.90 PKR 249

30.00%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

34.62%

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

$17.5K ¥2.8M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

-26.94%

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

$175 ¥28.0K

$110 PKR 30.7K

58.27%

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

$27.13 ¥4,349

$4.72 PKR 1,312

474.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.95 ¥5,603

$15.34 PKR 4,267

127.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.0 ¥9,452

$13.40 PKR 3,727

340.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.90 ¥2,548

$8.53 PKR 2,374

86.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 ¥2,079

$4.31 PKR 1,199

200.93%

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

$341 ¥54.6K

$38.86 PKR 10.8K

777.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$1,143 PKR 318.0K

1081.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.49 ¥7,773

$15.81 PKR 4,397

206.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.95 ¥5,281

$23.47 PKR 6,527

40.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 ¥10.1K

$72.0 PKR 20.0K

-12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ¥13.9K

$33.27 PKR 9,253

161.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 ¥96.9K

$111 PKR 30.9K

444.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 ¥67.0K

$67.3 PKR 18.7K

520.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 ¥218.4K

$272 PKR 75.6K

401.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$844 ¥135.2K

$167 PKR 46.4K

405.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,620 ¥900.9K

$983 PKR 273.3K

471.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,060 ¥490.4K

$519 PKR 144.3K

489.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,859 ¥298.0K

$185 PKR 51.5K

905.02%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $484 in Japan vs $78.0 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,094 in Tokyo and $198 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $1,862 in Japan vs $187 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 521% higher in Japan.

Dining out costs 218% more in Japan.

Public transport is 671% more expensive in Japan.

Salaries are 896% higher in Japan, giving Japan stronger purchasing power.

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 231% 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 231% 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.