Cost of Living & Quality of Life in Japan (2026)
What everyday life costs in Japan — rent, utilities, eating out, transport and schooling — and how it scores on safety, health care, pollution and climate compared with Eastern Asia.
- Quality of Life Index
- 177.6
- 2024
- Safety Index
- 77.4
- 2024
- Health Care Index
- 79.3
- 2024
- Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre
- $775/mo
- 2023
- Meal, inexpensive restaurant
- $7.00
- 2024
- Average monthly net salary
- $2,329
- 2023
Quality of life trends in Japan
Typical living costs in Japan
US dollars; national figures are medians/averages across cities reported to Numbeo.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent: 1-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $775/mo | 2023 | ±0% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 1-bedroom, outside centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre | $495/mo | 2023 | +2.5% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 3-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $2,218/mo | 2023 | +31.8% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Utilities for an 85 m² apartmentElectricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage, monthly | $202/mo | 2023 | +8.1% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Internet (60 Mbps+)Unlimited broadband, monthly | $36.34/mo | 2023 | -1.8% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Mobile plan (calls + 10GB)Monthly mobile phone plan | $29.18/mo | 2023 | — | Numbeo |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurantCountry median of city prices | $7.00 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Dinner for two, mid-range restaurantThree-course meal for two, country median of city prices | $35.02 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| CappuccinoRegular cappuccino, country median of city prices | $2.83 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Public transport monthly passCountry median of city prices | $56.04 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Gasoline (1 litre)Country median of city prices | $1.20 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Fitness club membershipCountry median of city prices | $60.04/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Private preschool (full day)Country median of city prices | $285/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Average monthly net salaryAverage monthly salary after tax | $2,329 | 2023 | -14.5% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
Quality of life indices
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life IndexComposite index (higher is better) | 177.6 | 2024 | +0.7% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Safety IndexPerceived safety (higher is safer) | 77.4 | 2024 | +0.7% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Health Care IndexPerceived quality of the health care system | 79.3 | 2024 | -1.2% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Pollution IndexPerceived pollution (lower is better) | 38.6 | 2024 | -1.5% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Climate IndexClimate likeability (higher is more pleasant) | 84.8 | 2024 | -0.6% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Year | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Pollution Index | Climate Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 177.6 | 77.4 | 79.3 | 38.6 | 84.8 |
| 2023 | 176.3 | 76.9 | 80.3 | 39.2 | 85.3 |
| 2022 | 169.5 | 77.9 | 80.5 | 38.8 | 85.3 |
| 2021 | 162.3 | 78 | 80.7 | 39.4 | 85.3 |
| 2020 | 168 | 79.3 | 81.1 | 39.6 | 84.8 |
| 2019 | 180.5 | 86.3 | 80.4 | 37.1 | 84.8 |
| 2018 | 176 | 86.9 | 81.7 | 41.7 | 84.8 |
| 2017 | 147.5 | 79.1 | 78.6 | 41 | 31.9 |
Japan compared with Eastern Asia
| Country | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Meal, inexpensive restaurant | Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 177.6 | 77.4 | 79.3 | $7.00 | $775/mo |
| China | 110.9 | 75.1 | 68.1 | $2.81 | $553/mo |
| Hong Kong | 98.4 | 78.1 | 66.3 | $8.33 | $2,271/mo |
| Mongolia | — | — | — | $4.71 | $490/mo |
| South Korea | 142.3 | 75.1 | 82.7 | $6.70 | $634/mo |
Related
Source: Numbeo (indices and prices, crowd-sourced). Salary is the average monthly net wage.