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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Japan is 28.7% cheaper than United States without rent, and 48.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Japan is 30.3% cheaper than United States without rent, and 45.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Japan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.86 Β₯1,086
$20.22 $20.22
-66.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.10 Β₯5,394
$75.7 $75.7
-54.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 Β₯862
$11.47 $11.47
-52.48%
Cappuccino
$3.41 Β₯539
$5.13 $5.13
-33.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 Β₯177
$2.61 $2.61
-57.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 Β₯132
$2.14 $2.14
-60.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 Β₯556
$6.17 $6.17
-42.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 Β₯649
$7.07 $7.07
-41.87%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Japan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Β₯238
$1.08 $1.08
38.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 Β₯240
$3.74 $3.74
-59.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.55 Β₯720
$4.57 $4.57
-0.44%
Eggs
$2.17 Β₯343
$4.20 $4.20
-48.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.14 Β₯1,920
$13.02 $13.02
-6.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 Β₯1,052
$12.18 $12.18
-45.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 Β₯3,030
$16.14 $16.14
18.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.24 Β₯829
$5.31 $5.31
-1.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 Β₯414
$1.72 $1.72
52.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.72 Β₯746
$4.59 $4.59
2.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 Β₯753
$4.96 $4.96
-4.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 Β₯450
$3.00 $3.00
-5.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 Β₯428
$3.04 $3.04
-10.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 Β₯222
$2.18 $2.18
-35.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Β₯139
$2.19 $2.19
-59.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 Β₯648
$10.16 $10.16
-59.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.39 Β₯1,326
$15.16 $15.16
-44.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 Β₯345
$1.99 $1.99
9.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Β₯455
$3.71 $3.71
-22.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Japan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.56 Β₯247
$2.48 $2.48
-37.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.9 Β₯9,309
$63.9 $63.9
-7.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 Β₯644
$3.69 $3.69
10.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.99 Β₯472
$1.76 $1.76
69.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.31 Β₯3,687
$30.06 $30.06
-22.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 Β₯188
$0.96 $0.96
23.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K Β₯3.6M
$30.2K $30.2K
-24.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K Β₯2.8M
$26.3K $26.3K
-33.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Japan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 Β₯27.9K
$207 $207
-15.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.10 Β₯4,286
$57.0 $57.0
-52.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.53 Β₯5,460
$71.5 $71.5
-51.70%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Japan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.3 Β₯9,214
$45.91 $45.91
26.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.77 Β₯2,494
$22.25 $22.25
-29.12%
Cinema Ticket
$13.19 Β₯2,086
$14.13 $14.13
-6.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Japan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$343 Β₯54.3K
$1,385 $1,385
-75.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K Β₯2.1M
$22.2K $22.2K
-39.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Japan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.18 Β₯7,778
$52.1 $52.1
-5.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.11 Β₯5,078
$42.53 $42.53
-24.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.7 Β₯9,756
$89.9 $89.9
-31.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 Β₯13.6K
$114 $114
-24.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Japan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$606 Β₯95.8K
$1,743 $1,743
-65.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 Β₯67.2K
$1,422 $1,422
-70.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,399 Β₯221.2K
$2,821 $2,821
-50.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$836 Β₯132.2K
$2,370 $2,370
-64.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,928 Β₯937.5K
$3,338 $3,338
77.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,061 Β₯484.1K
$2,615 $2,615
17.05%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Japan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,973 Β₯312.0K
$4,230 $4,230
-53.36%
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: January 13, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

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