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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 41.7% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 101.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 43.9% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 88.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Japan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36 $20.36
$6.76 ¥1,076
201.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 $74.3
$34.97 ¥5,562
112.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$5.65 ¥898
102.12%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$3.37 ¥536
54.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.09 ¥174
140.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.77 ¥123
179.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.42 ¥545
70.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$4.23 ¥673
69.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Japan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.52 ¥242
-28.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$1.57 ¥250
128.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$4.75 ¥756
-0.84%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$2.20 ¥350
99.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$12.43 ¥1,977
1.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$6.89 ¥1,096
79.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.39 $16.39
$19.71 ¥3,135
-16.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$5.40 ¥860
-4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.51 ¥400
-31.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.68 ¥744
-4.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$4.78 ¥760
4.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.84 ¥452
2.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.64 ¥420
15.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.40 ¥222
54.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.88 ¥140
151.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93 $9.93
$4.18 ¥665
137.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$8.51 ¥1,354
75.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.18 ¥347
-12.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.86 ¥455
29.37%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Japan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.51 ¥241
68.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.0 $65.0
$58.5 ¥9,300
11.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.28 ¥681
-13.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.89 ¥459
-38.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.24 $30.24
$23.81 ¥3,788
27.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.19 ¥189
-20.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$23.6K ¥3.7M
26.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$17.8K ¥2.8M
47.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Japan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$176 ¥27.9K
19.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$26.78 ¥4,261
117.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$35.08 ¥5,581
105.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Japan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.90 $45.90
$58.1 ¥9,249
-21.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.20 $22.20
$15.94 ¥2,536
39.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$13.01 ¥2,070
9.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Japan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$348 ¥55.4K
292.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$13.3K ¥2.1M
71.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Japan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$48.86 ¥7,772
8.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.96 $42.96
$32.24 ¥5,129
33.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 $89.4
$62.0 ¥9,863
44.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$86.8 ¥13.8K
30.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Japan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$594 ¥94.5K
197.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 $1,460
$426 ¥67.7K
243.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$1,407 ¥223.7K
103.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,360 $2,360
$834 ¥132.6K
182.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,427 $3,427
$6,204 ¥986.8K
-44.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,624 $2,624
$3,350 ¥532.9K
-21.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Japan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,306 $4,306
$1,953 ¥310.7K
120.47%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Japan: April 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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