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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 40.2% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 94.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 43.6% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 82.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Japan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$6.86 ¥1,086
194.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 $75.7
$34.10 ¥5,394
121.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.47 $11.47
$5.45 ¥862
110.46%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$3.41 ¥539
50.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.12 ¥177
133.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.84 ¥132
154.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.52 ¥556
75.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$4.11 ¥649
72.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Japan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.50 ¥238
-28.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.52 ¥240
146.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$4.55 ¥720
0.44%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$2.17 ¥343
93.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$12.14 ¥1,920
7.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.18 $12.18
$6.65 ¥1,052
83.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.14 $16.14
$19.16 ¥3,030
-15.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$5.24 ¥829
1.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.62 ¥414
-34.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.72 ¥746
-2.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.76 ¥753
4.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.85 ¥450
5.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.71 ¥428
12.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.41 ¥222
54.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.88 ¥139
148.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$4.10 ¥648
147.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$8.39 ¥1,326
80.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.18 ¥345
-8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.88 ¥455
28.82%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Japan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.56 ¥247
58.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$58.9 ¥9,309
8.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.07 ¥644
-9.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.99 ¥472
-41.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.06 $30.06
$23.31 ¥3,687
28.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.19 ¥188
-19.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$22.8K ¥3.6M
32.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$17.6K ¥2.8M
49.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Japan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$176 ¥27.9K
17.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.0 $57.0
$27.10 ¥4,286
110.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$34.53 ¥5,460
107.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Japan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.91 $45.91
$58.3 ¥9,214
-21.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$15.77 ¥2,494
41.09%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$13.19 ¥2,086
7.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Japan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,385 $1,385
$343 ¥54.3K
303.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K $22.2K
$13.5K ¥2.1M
64.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Japan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$49.18 ¥7,778
5.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 $42.53
$32.11 ¥5,078
32.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$61.7 ¥9,756
45.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$86.1 ¥13.6K
32.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Japan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 $1,743
$606 ¥95.8K
187.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$425 ¥67.2K
234.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,821 $2,821
$1,399 ¥221.2K
101.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,370 $2,370
$836 ¥132.2K
183.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,338 $3,338
$5,928 ¥937.5K
-43.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,615 $2,615
$3,061 ¥484.1K
-14.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Japan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,230 $4,230
$1,973 ¥312.0K
114.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
1.82
257.69%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for Japan: January 13, 2026

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