Japan

Compared with China, using real observed prices.

Baseline: China = 1×

Japan vs

China

Overall verdict

Japan is about 1.14× China.

Average across 5 categories, 9 items with data

The shape of prices (vs China = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is China. 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

China China = 1×

Japan is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 2 items

×2.10
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.22
📱 Electronics 1 item

×0.99
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.91
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.83

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

In Japan, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 3.0× what it does in China — but Big Mac costs only 0.8×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×2.99

Japan ¥1.56 USD 0.227

China ¥0.52 USD 0.076

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.47

Japan ¥0.52 USD 0.075

China ¥0.35 USD 0.051

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.22

Japan ¥363.64 JPY 8,778

China ¥298.00 CNY 298

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.99

Japan ¥5,916 JPY 142,800

China ¥5,999 CNY 5,999

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.93

Japan ¥6.63 USD 0.976

China ¥7.10 USD 1.045

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.88

Japan ¥7.07 USD 1.041

China ¥8.01 USD 1.179

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.83

Japan ¥21.08 JPY 480

China ¥25.50 CNY 25.5

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