Japan vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1097
$790
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2818
$2327
🏠 One person rent
$496
$352
🏘️ Family rent
$967
$908
🍽️ Food expenses
$376
$249
🚐 Transport expenses
$130
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2172
$608
💸 GDP per capita
$33824
$6910
😃 Human freedom index
8.4
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
84.4
78.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
73
35
🌐 English speaking %
15%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
98
78
😀 Quality of life
91
58
🏙️ Population
125M
66.2M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1097) is 39% more expensive than in Thailand ($790). Japan ranked 67th vs 114th 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 2 months in Japan compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 14th and 66th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Japan vs Thailand infographic

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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
$6.35
$2.43
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.4
$22.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.89
$5.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.02
$2.11
 Cappuccino
$3.07
$2.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.04
$0.58
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$484
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$337
$230
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1107
$1228
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$704
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.8
$51.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$151
$80.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$32.1
$15.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.75%
5.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4271
$4099
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2747
$2095
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.68
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.4
$31.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$25.3
$9.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.1
$1.11
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.4
$1.65
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.51
$1.49
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.08
$2.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.3
$17.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.18
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$16.2
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.31
$2.76
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.24
$1.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.32
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.01
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.4
$1.44
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.21
$1.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.3
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.42
$1.22
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.28
$17.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.88
$1.67
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.73
$4.02
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.8
$2.26
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.75
$3.82
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.35
$1.6
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.63
$1.76
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.7
$49
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$11.9
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$31.1
$28.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$16.3
$7.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$41.4
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56.1
$88.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$362
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11309
$11420

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
$1556
14M
Yokohama
$1329
3.76M
Osaka
$1116
2.75M
Nagoya
$1196
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1101
1.54M
Kobe
$1076
1.52M
Sapporo
$1173
1.96M
Sendai
$1026
1.06M
Fukuoka
$1054
1.6M
Hiroshima
$954
1.2M
Saitama
$1063
1.33M
Kyoto
$1026
1.46M
Yokosuka
$1136
390K
Sakai
$1103
824K
Chiba
$1161
975K
Sagamihara
$1020
726K
Kitakyushu
$963
935K
Hachioji
$1117
576K
Kagoshima
$999
594K
Kumamoto
$886
738K
Kawaguchi
$1052
593K
Amagasaki
$1058
459K
Utsunomiya
$998
518K
Niigata
$1056
791K
Funabashi
$1224
641K
Kashiwa
$1136
428K
Hamamatsu
$1033
788K
Shizuoka
$980
686K
Himeji
$1132
528K
Kurashiki
$1004
475K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$902
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$659
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$704
256K
Pak Kret
$677
185K
Nakhon Pathom
$481
78.8K
Surat Thani
$554
131K
Klaeng
$619
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$647
133K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$518
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$642
106K
Udon Thani
$500
130K
Hat Yai
$520
159K
Rangsit
$594
79.3K
Pattaya
$665
116K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$714
76.7K
Tha Khlong
$617
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$615
86.4K
Lat Luang
$716
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$532
116K
Phuket
$870
77.6K
Ko Samui
$642
69K
Laem Chabang
$648
77.8K
Hua Hin
$614
59.4K
Nong Prue
$653
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$534
79K
Phitsanulok
$496
70.9K
Chiang Rai
$462
70.6K
Krabi
$739
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$697
33.4K
Ao Nang
$653
14K