Data status: figures below come from the Burger Parity reference dataset. They are not independently verified current prices. An editorial revision is not a price verification date. Inspect the records and source labels.
Japan’s position in a product-price ranking is not the same as the cost of living in Tokyo, Osaka or a particular household. The recorded basket helps compare selected purchases; location, accommodation and income require separate evidence.
What the Japan records show
- Big Mac: 480 JPY ($3.07 USD).
- Netflix Standard Plan: 1,490 JPY ($9.54 USD).
- White Bread (500g): 200 JPY ($1.28 USD).
- iPhone 15 – 128 GB: 124,800 JPY ($798.72 USD).
Compare individual products with the United States
Use the Japan vs United States comparison to inspect the same product categories. A lower basket price may be driven by one expensive item rather than broad savings across everyday purchases. The row-by-row comparison makes that visible.
What is missing from a relocation budget
Housing type, neighborhood, deposits, transport pattern, utilities, healthcare and household size can materially change spending. The reference basket does not estimate those costs. It also does not assess eligibility to work, tax residency or the purchasing power of a particular salary.
Separate currency conversion from affordability
A visitor paid in dollars and a resident paid in yen experience the same yen price differently. Converting the sticker price to dollars answers a currency-comparison question. Dividing it by a person’s disposable income answers an affordability question. Neither should be substituted for the other.
Start with the Japan product breakdown, then build a dated, household-specific budget before using a price ranking to guide a move.