Travel budget and cost of living in Japan how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Japan

Japan: calculate your travel budget

Japan: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Japan for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Japan in 2023

Cost of living: Japan VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Japan in 2023 is 18% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Japan by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Japan compared to the national average.

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Local prices in Japan by expense type

Japan: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 7.9/person
($ 4.1 to $ 13)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 21/person
($ 14 to $ 44)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

McDonald's meal

$ 5.6/person
($ 5 to $ 6.5)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 3.6 for 500ml
($ 2 to $ 6.5)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7

Imported beer

$ 3 for 330ml
($ 2 to $ 4.1)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 3.5/cup
($ 1.6 to $ 5.6)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 1.2/can
($ 0.8 to $ 2.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 1/bottle
($ 0.8 to $ 1.6)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Japan: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 82/night
($ 66 to $ 115)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 116/night
($ 77 to $ 199)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 147

3-star hotel

$ 155/night
($ 88 to $ 308)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

4-star hotel

$ 364/night
($ 266 to $ 513)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 316

5-star hotel

$ 684/night
($ 545 to $ 826)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 684

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 83/month
($ 69 to $ 116)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 237/month
($ 155 to $ 409)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 253/month
($ 174 to $ 372)

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32% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 193

Cottage or guest house

$ 200/month
($ 136 to $ 315)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257

Family room

$ 265/month
($ 156 to $ 487)

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34% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 199

Japan: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2)

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36% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.7/500g
($ 1 to $ 3.6)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 3.7/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 8)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7

Eggs

$ 2/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 2.9)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Chicken

$ 7.3/kg
($ 3.2 to $ 13)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 5.6/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 13)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Tomatoes

$ 4.9/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 8.4)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 3.5/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 6.5)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1

Water bottle

$ 1
($ 0.6 to $ 1.6)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Japan: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.7/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 2.6)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 3.2/km
($ 2 to $ 4.5)

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71% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.4)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.5
($ 3.6 to $ 6)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 16/24hrs
($ 11 to $ 38)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Japan: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 15/ticket
($ 13 to $ 18)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 20/hr
($ 8 to $ 33)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Japan: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 4.5/pack
($ 4.1 to $ 6.5)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.1

Levi's jeans

$ 46
($ 21 to $ 82)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 35
($ 17 to $ 61)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Tokyo

$ 887
(fair price: $ 799)

Los Angeles → Tokyo

$ 825
(fair price: $ 714)

Sydney → Tokyo

$ 845
(fair price: $ 679)

Melbourne → Tokyo

$ 911
(fair price: $ 690)

New York City → Tokyo

$ 1425
(fair price: $ 1173)

Toronto (Ontario) → Tokyo

$ 1470
(fair price: $ 1236)