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Today’s rate
1 $ = ¥154.75
▼ 1.50 (0.96%)
Updated every business day · European Central Bank · as of Sep 7, 2026
Quick converter

Everyday

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Caffè latte (Starbucks, tall) ¥490 $3.17 $5.45 −42% cheaper in Japan
Can of soda (konbini) ¥160 $1.03 $2.50 −59% cheaper in Japan
Bottle of water 500 ml ¥110 $0.71 $1.60 −56% cheaper in Japan
Beer 500 ml (konbini) ¥350 $2.26 $2.20 ≈ about the same
Onigiri (konbini) ¥150 $0.97 —
One applefruit is pricey here ¥150 $0.97 $0.60 +62% pricier in Japan
Imported cheese (200 g) ¥700 $4.52 $4.00 +13% pricier in Japan

Eating out

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Bowl of ramenNYC ~$17 ¥1,000 $6.46 $17.00 −62% cheaper in Japan
Beef bowl (gyudon)Yoshinoya-style ¥500 $3.23 $12.00 −73% cheaper in Japan
Big Mac meal ¥750 $4.85 $9.29 −48% cheaper in Japan
Sushi lunch (10 pieces) ¥1,500 $9.69 $26.00 −63% cheaper in Japan
Bento / set lunch ¥900 $5.82 $15.00 −61% cheaper in Japan
Draft beer (izakaya) ¥500 $3.23 $8.00 −60% cheaper in Japan

Getting around

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Subway ticket (Tokyo)NYC $2.90 ¥210 $1.36 $2.90 −53% cheaper in Japan
Taxi base fare ¥500 $3.23 $3.00 ≈ about the same
Gasoline (1 litre)US ~$0.90/L ¥175 $1.13 $0.90 +26% pricier in Japan
Shinkansen Tokyo–Osakavs Acela NYC–DC ¥14,720 $95.12 $150 −37% cheaper in Japan

Living here

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
HaircutQB House-style ¥1,350 $8.72 $30.00 −71% cheaper in Japan
Doctor visitUS, uninsured ¥1,500 $9.69 $150 −94% cheaper in Japan
Karaoke (1 hr / person) ¥600 $3.88 $10.00 −61% cheaper in Japan
Cinema ticket ¥2,000 $12.92 $15.00 −14% cheaper in Japan
iPhone 16 (128 GB) ¥124,800 $806 $799 ≈ about the same
Studio rent / month (city)NYC ~$2,000 ¥75,000 $485 $2,000 −76% cheaper in Japan
Minimum wage (hourly)US federal $7.25 ¥1,055 $6.82 $7.25 income, not a cost

Yen prices are typical averages; the third column converts them at today’s rate, the fourth is a rough price back home. Meant to give a feel, not to the yen.

Planning a trip? See our full guide: How much does a trip to Japan cost.

My Offbeat Japan app is genuinely rather good, for iPhone and Android:App Store ↗Google Play ↗

Is Japan Expensive?

So, is Japan actually expensive? It depends first on the exchange rate, which moves every day. This tool shows today’s USD/JPY rate (source: European Central Bank) and converts a set of everyday Japanese prices into dollars, so you can see at a glance what costs less than back home, and what costs more. A coffee, a bowl of ramen, a subway ride, rent, the minimum wage: the numbers refresh automatically once a day.

Yen prices are typical averages, meant to give a feel rather than an exact quote. To budget a whole trip, see my guide How much does a trip to Japan cost.