Japan vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1183
$877
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2864
$2236
🏠 One person rent
$532
$397
🏘️ Family rent
$878
$684
🍽️ Food expenses
$409
$277
🚐 Transport expenses
$138
$109
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2190
$787
💸 GDP per capita
$32476
$7345
😃 Human freedom index
8.73
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
84
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
34
🌐 English speaking %
15%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
98
78
😀 Quality of life
89
56
🏙️ Population
124M
66.2M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1183) is 35% more expensive than in Thailand ($877). Japan ranked 65th vs 115th 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 1.9 months in Japan compared to 0.9 months in Thailand. Ranked 15th and 71st 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
$6.79
$2.9
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.8
$27.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.31
$6.38
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.13
$2.64
 Cappuccino
$3.25
$2.49
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.11
$0.73
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$535
$539
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$367
$265
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1157
$1419
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$729
$675
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$98.6
$60
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$152
$92
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$32.3
$16.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.81%
5.68%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5241
$4644
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$3177
$2407
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.72
$1.07
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$61.7
$34.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$26.6
$10.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.18
$1.23
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.52
$1.87
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.51
$1.48
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.06
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.18
$2.24
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.5
$17.7
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.63
$3.37
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$19.7
$9.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.98
$3.07
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.6
$1.6
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4
$2.11
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.76
$1.92
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.76
$1.58
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.55
$1.36
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.62
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.53
$1.31
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.55
$19
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.02
$1.81
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.87
$4.29
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.6
$2.5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.75
$4.4
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.83
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.72
$1.88
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$56.9
$50.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$12.7
$6.88
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$35.3
$35.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$17.2
$8.44
👖 Brand Jeans
$47.7
$53
👟 Brand Sneakers
$60.4
$94
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$340
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12139
$13177

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
$1723
14.3M
Yokohama
$1401
3.76M
Osaka
$1249
2.75M
Nagoya
$1259
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1439
1.54M
Hiroshima
$923
1.2M
Sapporo
$1259
1.96M
Kyoto
$1188
1.46M
Kobe
$1171
1.52M
Saitama
$1085
1.33M
Fukuoka
$1123
1.6M
Sagamihara
$1095
726K
Sendai
$1104
1.06M
Sakai
$1157
824K
Shizuoka
$1080
686K
Kitakyushu
$1097
935K
Yokosuka
$1201
390K
Chiba
$1320
975K
Hachioji
$1339
576K
Amagasaki
$1148
456K
Funabashi
$1184
641K
Wakayama
$1285
353K
Himeji
$1088
528K
Kumamoto
$1039
738K
Kawaguchi
$1073
594K
Utsunomiya
$1110
518K
Niigata
$1103
791K
Hamamatsu
$1071
788K
Machida
$1102
434K
Kagoshima
$1079
594K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$992
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$730
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$749
256K
Pak Kret
$750
185K
Surat Thani
$602
131K
Nakhon Pathom
$618
78.8K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$595
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$817
106K
Klaeng
$717
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$775
133K
Hat Yai
$594
159K
Udon Thani
$589
130K
Rangsit
$611
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$795
76.7K
Lat Luang
$798
73.9K
Pattaya
$818
120K
Ko Samui
$752
69K
Tha Khlong
$671
72.8K
Phuket
$1005
77.6K
Hua Hin
$713
59.4K
Laem Chabang
$784
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$563
70.9K
Nakhon Sawan
$688
86.4K
Nong Prue
$792
70.6K
Krabi
$806
30.5K
Chiang Rai
$606
70.6K
Ko Lanta
$803
33.4K
Khon Kaen
$591
116K
Ubon Ratchathani
$564
79K
Ao Nang
$813
14K