Japan

Compared with South Korea, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South Korea = 1×

Japan vs

South Korea

Overall verdict

Japan is about 0.98× South Korea.

Average across 5 categories, 9 items with data

The shape of prices (vs South Korea = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is South Korea. 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

South Korea South Korea = 1×

Japan is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 2 items

×1.36
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.19
📱 Electronics 1 item

×0.99
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.81
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.71

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

In Japan, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 1.8× what it does in South Korea — but Diesel 1L costs only 0.7×. 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 ×1.79

Japan ₩342 USD 0.227

South Korea ₩191 USD 0.127

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.19

Japan ₩78,386 JPY 8,778

South Korea ₩66,000 KRW 66,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×1.03

Japan ₩113 USD 0.075

South Korea ₩110 USD 0.073

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.99

Japan ₩1,275,181 JPY 142,800

South Korea ₩1,290,000 KRW 1,290,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.81

Japan ₩4,450 JPY 480

South Korea ₩5,500 KRW 5,500

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.73

Japan ₩1,622 USD 1.041

South Korea ₩2,223 USD 1.427

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.69

Japan ₩1,521 USD 0.976

South Korea ₩2,205 USD 1.415

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com