China

Compared with Japan, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Japan = 1×

China vs

Japan

Overall verdict

China is about 0.88× Japan.

Average across 5 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Japan = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Japan. A bar running right means China is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.

← Cheaper than

Japan Japan = 1×

China is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.21
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.10
📱 Electronics 1 item

×1.01
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.82
⚡ Utilities 2 items

×0.48

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In China, Big Mac costs 1.2× what it does in Japan — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.3×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.21

China ¥581 CNY 25.5

Japan ¥480 JPY 480

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.13

China ¥192 USD 1.179

Japan ¥169 USD 1.041

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.07

China ¥170 USD 1.045

Japan ¥159 USD 0.976

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×1.01

China ¥144,810 CNY 5,999

Japan ¥142,800 JPY 142,800

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.82

China ¥7,193 CNY 298

Japan ¥8,778 JPY 8,778

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.68

China ¥8 USD 0.051

Japan ¥12 USD 0.075

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.33

China ¥12 USD 0.076

Japan ¥36 USD 0.227

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com