Cost of living in Japan
Summary of cost of living in Japan
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: ¥613,424
- Single person estimated monthly costs: ¥363,622
- Cost of living in Japan is cheaper than in 44% of countries in Asia (4 out of 9)
- Cost of living in Japan is more expensive than in 59% of countries in the World (26 out of 61)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | ¥1,031 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | ¥803 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | ¥518 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | ¥223 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | ¥320 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | ¥564 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | ¥1,287 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | ¥611 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | ¥399 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | ¥307 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | ¥1,249 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | ¥208 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | ¥176 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | ¥365,189 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | ¥186,450 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | ¥20,112 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | ¥167,408 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | ¥104,544 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | ¥13,280 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | ¥4,420 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | ¥61,842 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | ¥10,283 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | ¥1,221 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | ¥2,831 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | ¥8,264 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | ¥5,233 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | ¥9,385 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | ¥12,490 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | ¥2,997,460 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | ¥169 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | ¥9,067 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | ¥2,133 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | ¥2,993 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | ¥6,000 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | ¥1,337 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | ¥948 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | ¥622 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | ¥224 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | ¥204 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | ¥4,495 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | ¥5,113 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | ¥3,833 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | ¥12,839 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | ¥8,204 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | ¥1,237 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | ¥531 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | ¥674 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | ¥51,659 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | ¥52 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | ¥9,541 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | ¥598 | ||
Moving to Japan with your children?
International Schools in Japan
Map of Cost of Living in Japan
This map shows only the top cities in Japan. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Japan
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tokyo | 117 |
| 2nd | Nagoya | 108 |
| 3rd | Sagamihara | 98 |
| 4th | Fukuoka | 94 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Japan? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Japan of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Japan
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 44% cheaper than in Honolulu, Hawaii
- Cost of living in Tokyo is about the same as in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 19% more expensive than in Taipei
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 7% cheaper than in Portsmouth
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 36% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 7% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 43% more expensive than in Kaohsiung City
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 41% more expensive than in Kao-hsiung
- Cost of living in Tokyo is about the same as in Seoul
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 41% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 33% cheaper than in Melbourne
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 35% more expensive than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 29% more expensive than in Santiago, Chile
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 43% more expensive than in Cape Town
- Cost of living in Tokyo is about the same as in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Tokyo is about the same as in Tucson, Arizona
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 58% more expensive than in Porto Alegre
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 24% more expensive than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Nagoya is 39% cheaper than in Copenhagen
- Cost of living in Nagoya is 19% more expensive than in Santiago, Chile
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Tokyo costs ¥1,000 (2 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Tokyo costs ¥600 (2 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Tokyo costs ¥500 (8 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Tokyo costs ¥450 (8 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Tokyo costs ¥600 (8 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Tokyo costs ¥10,000 (8 days ago)
- 24 tablets box of cold medicine (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) in Tokyo costs ¥800 (8 days ago)
- Taxi fare per distance, weekday at noon, per 1 km. in Tokyo costs ¥500 (8 days ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Tokyo costs ¥13,000 (8 days ago)
- Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Tokyo costs ¥6,500 (8 days ago)