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

Name: Japan
Address: JP

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

The cost of living in Pakistan is roughly 62% lower than in Japan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

$2.22 PKR 616

$6.12 ¥956

-63.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.09 PKR 3,905

$30.69 ¥4,794

-54.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,472

$4.90 ¥765

8.37%

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

$1.97 PKR 547

$3.20 ¥499

-38.44%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$1.17 ¥182

-70.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.6

$0.78 ¥122

-71.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 ¥486

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ¥571

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$1.48 ¥231

-44.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$1.51 ¥236

-58.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$4.82 ¥752

-74.69%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 340

$2.09 ¥327

-41.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.61 PKR 1,556

$11.74 ¥1,835

-52.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 PKR 761

$6.40 ¥1,000

-57.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 PKR 1,356

$17.67 ¥2,761

-72.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 314

$4.76 ¥743

-76.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$2.37 ¥371

-72.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 240

$4.28 ¥669

-79.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$4.36 ¥680

-86.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$2.73 ¥427

-88.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$2.62 ¥409

-85.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 96.0

$1.25 ¥196

-72.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 112

$0.90 ¥140

-54.44%

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)

$2.10 PKR 582

$3.96 ¥619

-46.97%

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)

$0.17 PKR 46.60

$1.40 ¥219

-87.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.08 PKR 2,794

$55.3 ¥8,643

-81.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$3.54 ¥553

-74.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$3.11 ¥486

-82.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 584

$19.69 ¥3,075

-89.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.09 ¥171

11.93%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.0M

$21.8K ¥3.4M

-16.37%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$16.2K ¥2.5M

54.26%

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

$106 PKR 29.4K

$158 ¥24.6K

-32.69%

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

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$24.79 ¥3,873

-78.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.28 PKR 4,236

$32.46 ¥5,071

-52.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.96 PKR 4,423

$52.8 ¥8,253

-69.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 PKR 2,967

$17.71 ¥2,767

-39.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 PKR 1,209

$12.61 ¥1,970

-65.42%

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

$42.86 PKR 11.9K

$562 ¥87.7K

-92.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,314 PKR 364.2K

$11.6K ¥1.8M

-88.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.45 PKR 4,282

$45.40 ¥7,092

-65.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.06 PKR 6,392

$28.46 ¥4,447

-18.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

$60.6 ¥9,467

25.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.87 PKR 9,111

$77.8 ¥12.2K

-57.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 PKR 37.2K

$573 ¥89.5K

-76.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.4 PKR 20.9K

$379 ¥59.2K

-80.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 PKR 81.7K

$1,338 ¥209.0K

-77.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.5K

$752 ¥117.5K

-77.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,000 PKR 277.3K

$5,535 ¥864.8K

-81.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$524 PKR 145.3K

$2,846 ¥444.6K

-81.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 PKR 52.4K

$2,055 ¥321.0K

-90.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.99

2.05

582.44%

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

Last update for Pakistan: August 29, 2026

Last update for Japan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $182 in Pakistan vs $1,876 in Japan. 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

Pakistan vs Japan: 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.