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Today’s rate
1 $ = ¥163.82
▲ 0.35 (0.21%)
Updated every business day · European Central Bank · as of Jul 24, 2026
Quick converter

Everyday

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Caffè latte (Starbucks, tall) ¥490 $2.99 $5.45 −45% cheaper in Japan
Can of soda (konbini) ¥160 $0.98 $2.50 −61% cheaper in Japan
Bottle of water 500 ml ¥110 $0.67 $1.60 −58% cheaper in Japan
Beer 500 ml (konbini) ¥350 $2.14 $2.20 ≈ about the same
Onigiri (konbini) ¥150 $0.92 —
One applefruit is pricey here ¥150 $0.92 $0.60 +53% pricier in Japan
Imported cheese (200 g) ¥700 $4.27 $4.00 ≈ about the same

Eating out

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Bowl of ramenNYC ~$17 ¥1,000 $6.10 $17.00 −64% cheaper in Japan
Beef bowl (gyudon)Yoshinoya-style ¥500 $3.05 $12.00 −75% cheaper in Japan
Big Mac meal ¥750 $4.58 $9.29 −51% cheaper in Japan
Sushi lunch (10 pieces) ¥1,500 $9.16 $26.00 −65% cheaper in Japan
Bento / set lunch ¥900 $5.49 $15.00 −63% cheaper in Japan
Draft beer (izakaya) ¥500 $3.05 $8.00 −62% cheaper in Japan

Getting around

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
Subway ticket (Tokyo)NYC $2.90 ¥210 $1.28 $2.90 −56% cheaper in Japan
Taxi base fare ¥500 $3.05 $3.00 ≈ about the same
Gasoline (1 litre)US ~$0.90/L ¥175 $1.07 $0.90 +19% pricier in Japan
Shinkansen Tokyo–Osakavs Acela NYC–DC ¥14,720 $89.85 $150 −40% cheaper in Japan

Living here

Item In Japan In dollars Back home Verdict
HaircutQB House-style ¥1,350 $8.24 $30.00 −73% cheaper in Japan
Doctor visitUS, uninsured ¥1,500 $9.16 $150 −94% cheaper in Japan
Karaoke (1 hr / person) ¥600 $3.66 $10.00 −63% cheaper in Japan
Cinema ticket ¥2,000 $12.21 $15.00 −19% cheaper in Japan
iPhone 16 (128 GB) ¥124,800 $762 $799 ≈ about the same
Studio rent / month (city)NYC ~$2,000 ¥75,000 $458 $2,000 −77% cheaper in Japan
Minimum wage (hourly)US federal $7.25 ¥1,055 $6.44 $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.

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 our guide How much does a trip to Japan cost.