Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and United States

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Japan is 29.4% cheaper than United States without rent, and 51% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Japan is 30.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 47.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Japan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.75 Β₯970
$20.33 $20.33
-66.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.12 Β₯4,902
$74.4 $74.4
-54.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.42 Β₯779
$11.49 $11.49
-52.83%
Cappuccino
$3.24 Β₯466
$5.09 $5.09
-36.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 Β₯163
$2.54 $2.54
-55.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 Β₯113
$2.11 $2.11
-62.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 Β₯493
$6.09 $6.09
-43.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 Β₯594
$7.1 $7.1
-41.83%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Japan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Β₯223
$1.08 $1.08
43.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 Β₯221
$3.7 $3.7
-58.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.68 Β₯672
$4.65 $4.65
0.65%
Eggs
$2.25 Β₯323
$4.21 $4.21
-46.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.02 Β₯1,726
$12.75 $12.75
-5.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.67 Β₯958
$12.24 $12.24
-45.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.2 Β₯2,759
$16.08 $16.08
19.40%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 Β₯741
$5.41 $5.41
-4.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 Β₯362
$1.73 $1.73
45.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.66 Β₯669
$4.37 $4.37
6.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 Β₯700
$4.94 $4.94
-1.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 Β₯408
$2.88 $2.88
-1.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 Β₯390
$3.07 $3.07
-11.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 Β₯197
$2.25 $2.25
-39.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 Β₯130
$2.21 $2.21
-59.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 Β₯599
$10.09 $10.09
-58.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.58 Β₯1,232
$14.73 $14.73
-41.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 Β₯317
$1.91 $1.91
15.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 Β₯416
$3.54 $3.54
-18.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Japan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 Β₯222
$2.56 $2.56
-39.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.9 Β₯8,458
$63.9 $63.9
-7.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 Β₯581
$3.81 $3.81
6.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.87 Β₯412
$1.77 $1.77
62.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.77 Β₯3,415
$30.4 $30.4
-21.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 Β₯174
$0.94 $0.94
28.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K Β₯3.4M
$30K $30K
-21.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K Β₯2.6M
$25.8K $25.8K
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Japan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 Β₯24.9K
$209 $209
-16.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.8 Β₯3,850
$57.9 $57.9
-53.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.61 Β₯5,115
$71.1 $71.1
-49.91%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Japan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.8 Β₯8,441
$45.88 $45.88
28.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.8 Β₯2,270
$22.25 $22.25
-28.99%
Cinema Ticket
$13.1 Β₯1,882
$14.14 $14.14
-7.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Japan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 Β₯50.6K
$1,373 $1,373
-74.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K Β₯1.9M
$22.4K $22.4K
-40.79%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Japan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.28 Β₯6,935
$51.5 $51.5
-6.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.95 Β₯4,590
$41.96 $41.96
-23.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.7 Β₯9,009
$88.3 $88.3
-29.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4 Β₯12.3K
$112 $112
-23.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Japan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 Β₯85.8K
$1,731 $1,731
-65.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$424 Β₯60.9K
$1,446 $1,446
-70.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 Β₯197.3K
$2,846 $2,846
-51.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$834 Β₯119.8K
$2,366 $2,366
-64.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,006 Β₯862.8K
$3,245 $3,245
85.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,282 Β₯471.5K
$2,667 $2,667
23.09%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Japan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,038 Β₯292.7K
$4,312 $4,312
-52.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.82
6.51
-72.04%

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

Last update for Japan: October 29, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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