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 2024

Cost of living: Japan VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Japan in 2024 is 25% 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.

Show all cities (17 more)

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Local prices in Japan by expense type

Japan: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 6.4/person
($ 3.8 to $ 11)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 20/person
($ 13 to $ 65)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 4.8/person
($ 4.1 to $ 5.8)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 2.5 for 500ml
($ 1.6 to $ 5.1)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.6 for 330ml
($ 1.5 to $ 3.8)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 2.9/cup
($ 1.3 to $ 5.1)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.8/bottle
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Japan: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 119/night
($ 48 to $ 447)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

2-star hotel

$ 137/night
($ 51 to $ 504)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 159

3-star hotel

$ 160/night
($ 56 to $ 586)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 232

4-star hotel

$ 239/night
($ 101 to $ 711)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 312

5-star hotel

$ 251/night
($ 118 to $ 711)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 481

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 120/month
($ 48 to $ 439)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

Room with kitchen

$ 208/month
($ 68 to $ 649)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 245

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 202/month
($ 80 to $ 608)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Cottage or guest house

$ 158/month
($ 78 to $ 480)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 227

Family room

$ 271/month
($ 89 to $ 795)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Japan: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.8)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 1.4/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 3.2)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 3.5/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 6.4)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 2.1/12 eggs
($ 1.5 to $ 2.7)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Chicken

$ 6.1/kg
($ 2.8 to $ 9.1)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 4.6/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 9.6)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 4.2/kg
($ 2 to $ 7.6)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.5)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.8
($ 0.5 to $ 1.3)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Japan: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.4/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 2.3)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.7/km
($ 1.6 to $ 4.2)

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60% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.1/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.2)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.7
($ 3.2 to $ 5)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 63/24hrs
($ 41 to $ 142)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Japan: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 12/ticket
($ 9.6 to $ 16)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 18/hr
($ 6.4 to $ 27)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Japan: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 3.8/pack
($ 3.2 to $ 4.5)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 43
($ 20 to $ 65)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 30
($ 13 to $ 52)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → Tokyo

$ 931
(fair price: $ 797)

Melbourne → Tokyo

$ 1047
(fair price: $ 785)

Sydney → Tokyo

$ 928
(fair price: $ 756)

New York City → Tokyo

$ 1622
(fair price: $ 1343)

Vancouver → Tokyo

$ 1397
(fair price: $ 1135)

Toronto → Tokyo

$ 1684
(fair price: $ 1333)

Book a flight Flight prices to Japan