Japan
Compared with Australia, using real observed prices.
Baseline: 
Australia = 1×
Japan
vs
Australia
Overall verdict
Japan is about 0.75× Australia.
Average across 5 categories, 9 items with data
The shape of prices (vs Australia = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Australia. 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 Australia
Australia = 1×
Japan is pricier →
Australia
Australia = 1×
Japan is pricier →
Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)
In Japan, iPhone (base model, base storage) costs 0.9× what it does in Australia — but Big Mac costs only 0.5×. Calling this country simply "expensive" hides a gap this wide.
Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.
-
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.89Japan
A$1,249
JPY 142,800Australia
A$1,399
AUD 1,399
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.88Japan
A$0.33
USD 0.227Australia
A$0.37
USD 0.259
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.85Japan
A$76.76
JPY 8,778Australia
A$89.95
AUD 89.95
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.84Japan
A$1.51
USD 1.041Australia
A$1.80
USD 1.239
-
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.69Japan
A$0.11
USD 0.075Australia
A$0.16
USD 0.108
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.69Japan
A$1.42
USD 0.976Australia
A$2.06
USD 1.421
-
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.53Japan
A$4.52
JPY 480Australia
A$8.50
AUD 8.5
See what really changed
Big Mac, 2021 → 2026At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+23%
in JPY
390 → 480
390 → 480
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
-7%
in AUD
It rose 23% in local currency, but -7% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not Japan's inflation.
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