Japan vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1131
$914
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2766
$2348
🏠 One person rent
$508
$414
🏘️ Family rent
$842
$715
🍽️ Food expenses
$391
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$133
$112
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1971
$561
💸 GDP per capita
$32487
$7347
😃 Human freedom index
8.6
6.79
❤️ Life expectancy
84
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
33
🌐 English speaking %
15%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
98
78
😀 Quality of life
89
56
🏙️ Population
124M
71.7M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1131) is 24% more expensive than in Thailand ($914). Japan ranked 78th vs 110th for Thailand in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.7 months in Japan compared to 0.6 months in Thailand. Ranked 20th and 78th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Japan vs Thailand

We calculate prices for Japan and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 907 and 35 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

Japan Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.55
$3.07
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$34.6
$30.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.99
$6.83
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.16
$2.86
 Cappuccino
$3.09
$2.62
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.12
$0.78
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$526
$553
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$353
$283
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1138
$1776
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$682
$717
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$94.4
$58.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$146
$90.6
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$30.9
$20.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.89%
5.72%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5340
$4946
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2928
$2732
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.62
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$60.5
$35.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$24.8
$11.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.11
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.43
$1.92
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.4
$1.67
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.31
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.1
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$16.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.36
$3.37
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$20.7
$11.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.87
$3.45
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.37
$1.72
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.9
$2.19
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.67
$1.99
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.6
$1.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.59
$1.42
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.39
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.37
$1.31
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.07
$16.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.95
$1.88
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.92
$4.64
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$9.73
$2.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.47
$4.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.31
$1.8
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.56
$1.87
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$55
$62.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.2
$7.78
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$35
$34
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.8
$7.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$46.6
$58
👟 Brand Sneakers
$57.2
$102
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$388
$590
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$13435
$15181

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Japan vs Thailand

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Japan

City Cost of living Population
Tokyo
$1698
14.3M
Yokohama
$1343
3.76M
Osaka
$1274
2.75M
Nagoya
$1196
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1399
1.54M
Sapporo
$1121
1.96M
Hiroshima
$877
1.2M
Kobe
$1103
1.52M
Kyoto
$1128
1.46M
Fukuoka
$1045
1.6M
Saitama
$1073
1.33M
Sagamihara
$992
726K
Sakai
$1127
824K
Chiba
$1263
975K
Shizuoka
$961
686K
Kitakyushu
$1088
935K
Sendai
$1010
1.06M
Hachioji
$1343
576K
Funabashi
$1130
641K
Niigata
$1024
791K
Kawaguchi
$1050
594K
Kumamoto
$957
738K
Hamamatsu
$991
788K
Kagoshima
$991
594K
Machida
$1066
434K
Kashiwa
$1145
428K
Himeji
$1009
528K
Utsunomiya
$1036
518K
Nishinomiya
$1093
487K
Okayama
$910
720K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$1027
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$780
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$789
256K
Pak Kret
$788
190K
Surat Thani
$612
131K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$610
134K
Udon Thani
$581
130K
Hat Yai
$622
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$823
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$834
106K
Khon Kaen
$621
116K
Klaeng
$768
130K
Phuket
$1059
77.6K
Rangsit
$656
79.3K
Pattaya
$874
120K
Lat Luang
$833
73.9K
Nakhon Pathom
$658
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$710
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$829
76.7K
Ko Samui
$782
69K
Nakhon Sawan
$730
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$838
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$585
70.9K
Hua Hin
$784
59.4K
Krabi
$891
30.5K
Nong Prue
$846
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$626
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$583
79K
Ko Lanta
$846
33.4K
Ao Nang
$808
14K