Japan

Compared with United States, using real observed prices.

Baseline: United States = 1×

Japan vs

United States

Overall verdict

Japan is about 0.88× United States.

Average across 5 categories, 9 items with data

The shape of prices (vs United States = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is United States. A bar running right means Japan 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

United States United States = 1×

Japan is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 2 items

×1.37
📱 Electronics 1 item

×1.05
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.89
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.81
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.49

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

In Japan, Natural gas 1kWh (household) costs 1.6× what it does in United States — but Big Mac costs only 0.5×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.56

Japan $0.08 USD 0.075

United States $0.05 USD 0.048

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.21

Japan $0.23 USD 0.227

United States $0.19 USD 0.188

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×1.05

Japan $871.74 JPY 142,800

United States $829.00 USD 829

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.91

Japan $1.04 USD 1.041

United States $1.15 USD 1.146

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.89

Japan $53.59 JPY 8,778

United States $59.99 USD 59.99

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.72

Japan $0.98 USD 0.976

United States $1.36 USD 1.356

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.49

Japan $3.03 JPY 480

United States $6.12 USD 6.12

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index