Japan vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Japan Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1109
$882
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2719
$2288
🏠 One person rent
$500
$390
🏘️ Family rent
$826
$673
🍽️ Food expenses
$383
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$129
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1914
$620
💸 GDP per capita
$32487
$7347
😃 Human freedom index
8.6
6.79
❤️ Life expectancy
84
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
71
33
🌐 English speaking %
28%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
98
78
😀 Quality of life
90
57
🏙️ Population
124M
71.7M

The average cost of living in Japan ($1109) is 26% more expensive than in Thailand ($882). Japan ranked 81st vs 117th 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 0.7 months in Thailand. Ranked 18th and 77th 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
$6.36
$3.11
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$33.4
$32.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.84
$6.93
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.07
$2.72
 Cappuccino
$2.99
$2.58
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.16
$0.67
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$528
$519
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$347
$264
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1147
$1698
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$693
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$90.7
$55
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$140
$84.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$30.9
$18.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
1.98%
5.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5087
$4955
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2842
$2717
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.59
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$59.9
$34.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$23.9
$10.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.05
$1.34
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.4
$1.91
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.4
$1.54
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.22
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.01
$2.46
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.3
$17.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.17
$3.41
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$20
$12.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.53
$3.49
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.33
$1.56
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.67
$2.23
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.68
$2.06
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.55
$1.65
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.59
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.55
$0.36
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.34
$1.25
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$8.67
$16
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.84
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.74
$4.47
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$9.68
$2.18
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.41
$3.92
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.29
$1.74
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.53
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.5
$57.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$11.7
$7.23
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.1
$33
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.4
$7.36
👖 Brand Jeans
$45
$63.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$56
$95.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$448
$559
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$13117
$15039

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Japan vs Thailand

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Japan

City Cost of living Population
Tokyo
$1679
14.3M
Yokohama
$1326
3.76M
Osaka
$1254
2.75M
Nagoya
$1141
2.33M
Kawasaki
$1358
1.54M
Sapporo
$1137
1.96M
Hiroshima
$842
1.2M
Kyoto
$1100
1.46M
Kobe
$1185
1.52M
Fukuoka
$1018
1.6M
Saitama
$1055
1.33M
Sagamihara
$978
726K
Sakai
$1099
824K
Hachioji
$1318
576K
Chiba
$1232
975K
Shizuoka
$895
686K
Kitakyushu
$1041
935K
Amagasaki
$1059
456K
Funabashi
$1119
641K
Sendai
$1007
1.06M
Yokosuka
$1120
390K
Kumamoto
$922
738K
Kawaguchi
$1045
594K
Machida
$1047
434K
Kagoshima
$951
594K
Himeji
$976
528K
Kashiwa
$1108
428K
Utsunomiya
$1063
518K
Niigata
$1018
791K
Hamamatsu
$995
788K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$996
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$750
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$761
256K
Pak Kret
$762
190K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$586
134K
Udon Thani
$564
130K
Surat Thani
$582
131K
Hat Yai
$588
159K
Klaeng
$724
130K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Chaophraya Surasak
$784
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$788
106K
Pattaya
$839
120K
Rangsit
$616
79.3K
Nakhon Pathom
$603
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$671
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$789
76.7K
Lat Luang
$794
73.9K
Chiang Rai
$581
70.6K
Nakhon Sawan
$707
86.4K
Ko Samui
$735
69K
Phuket
$1010
77.6K
Laem Chabang
$799
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$554
70.9K
Nong Prue
$809
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$543
79K
Hua Hin
$787
59.4K
Krabi
$836
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$806
33.4K
Ao Nang
$784
14K