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.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 83 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 9.9 per person
  • $ 6.2 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1605* (234822 ¥)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 150 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 21 per person
  • $ 22 per person
  • $ 13 per person

Total budget:

$ 3617* (529326 ¥)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 204 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 36 per person
  • $ 51 per person
  • $ 26 per person

Total budget:

$ 5945* (870002 ¥)

* 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 2024

Cost of living: Japan VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Japan in 2024 is 20% 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.

Cities /Japan View Details
Shizuoka 22% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Shizuoka
Karuizawa 21% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Karuizawa
Maebashi 20% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Maebashi
Kofu 18% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Kofu
Hachinohe 15% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Hachinohe
Tokyo 13% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Tokyo
Kyoto 3% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Kyoto
Sapporo (Hokkaido) 0% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Sapporo (Hokkaido)
Okinawa 1% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Okinawa
Nagoya 4% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Nagoya
Fukuoka 4% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Fukuoka
Osaka 5% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Osaka
Hiroshima 12% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Hiroshima

Show all cities (18 more)




Local prices in Japan by expense type

Japan: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Japan costs 48% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 7/person
($ 4.2 to $ 12)

64% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 20/person
($ 14 to $ 64)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 5.2/person
($ 4.8 to $ 6.3)

52% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 3.1 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5.5)

47% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.8 to $ 4.2)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.2/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 5.2)

37% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 1.1/can
($ 0.8 to $ 2.1)

56% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.8/bottle
($ 0.7 to $ 1.1)

61% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Japan: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Japan costs 19% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 118/night
($ 48 to $ 445)

34% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 138/night
($ 53 to $ 510)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 162/night
($ 56 to $ 585)

31% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 237
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 245/night
($ 105 to $ 741)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 320
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 275/night
($ 142 to $ 730)

41% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 466
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 123/month
($ 49 to $ 448)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 217/month
($ 75 to $ 655)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 251
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 206/month
($ 81 to $ 621)

4% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 160/month
($ 79 to $ 482)

31% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 232
Family room
Family room
$ 276/month
($ 89 to $ 805)

28% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216

Japan: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Japan costs 20% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 2)

44% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 1.5/500g
($ 0.9 to $ 3.5)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 3.9/kg
($ 2 to $ 7)

16% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 2.2/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 3)

39% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 6.6/kg
($ 3.1 to $ 10)

44% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 5.1/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 10)

4% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 4.6/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 9.2)

4% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 2.8/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.6)

5% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.9
($ 0.6 to $ 1.4)

59% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Japan: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Japan is 13% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 1.5/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)

37% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 3/km
($ 1.8 to $ 4.6)

78% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.2)

26% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 4.2
($ 3.5 to $ 5.4)

18% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Car hire
Car hire
$ 58/24hrs
($ 39 to $ 148)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 72

Japan: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Japan costs 12% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 13/ticket
($ 11 to $ 18)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 18/hr
($ 7 to $ 29)

16% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Japan: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Japan costs 31% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 4.2/pack
($ 3.5 to $ 5.2)

57% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 47
($ 22 to $ 71)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 34
($ 14 to $ 57)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → Tokyo
Los Angeles  → Tokyo
Los Angeles  → Tokyo
$ 961
(fair price: $ 828)
Melbourne → Tokyo
Melbourne → Tokyo
Melbourne → Tokyo
$ 1047
(fair price: $ 803)
New York City → Tokyo
New York City → Tokyo
New York City → Tokyo
$ 1631
(fair price: $ 1342)
Sydney → Tokyo
Sydney → Tokyo
Sydney → Tokyo
$ 930
(fair price: $ 772)
Vancouver → Tokyo
Vancouver → Tokyo
Vancouver → Tokyo
$ 1416
(fair price: $ 1148)
Toronto → Tokyo
Toronto → Tokyo
Toronto → Tokyo
$ 1728
(fair price: $ 1375)

Book a flight Flight prices to Japan




About the information on the cost of living in Japan

The information about the cost of living in Japan shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Japan updated on 01-10-2024.

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