United States

Compared with Japan, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Japan = 1×

United States vs

Japan

Overall verdict

United States is about 1.14× 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 United States 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×

United States is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×2.02
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.24
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.12
📱 Electronics 1 item

×0.95
⚡ Utilities 2 items

×0.73

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

In United States, Big Mac costs 2.0× what it does in Japan — but Natural gas 1kWh (household) costs only 0.6×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×2.02

United States ¥970 USD 6.12

Japan ¥480 JPY 480

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.39

United States ¥221 USD 1.356

Japan ¥159 USD 0.976

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.12

United States ¥9,827 USD 59.99

Japan ¥8,778 JPY 8,778

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.10

United States ¥186 USD 1.146

Japan ¥169 USD 1.041

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.95

United States ¥135,798 USD 829

Japan ¥142,800 JPY 142,800

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.83

United States ¥30 USD 0.188

Japan ¥36 USD 0.227

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.64

United States ¥8 USD 0.048

Japan ¥12 USD 0.075

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com