Price comparison
The same 29 everyday buys in Japan and China, from a coffee to an airport taxi: what locals pay, what tourist spots charge, and where your money goes further.
The numbers that decide a trip, in one table. Money in USD, the local price underneath.
What locals pay in Japan and China, item by item. Shown in USD at one daily rate so the two sides compare, with the local price underneath. Differences under 3% count as about the same.
21 of the 29 items cost less in China.
Bottled, convenience store
Japan: ≈ $0.63 – $0.95 ¥100 – ¥150 China: ≈ $0.30 – $0.60 CN¥2 – CN¥4 Cafe or street vendor
Japan: ≈ $1.90 – $3.80 ¥300 – ¥600 China: ≈ $1.50 – $3.70 CN¥10 – CN¥25 Draft, at bar or restaurant
Japan: ≈ $3.20 – $5.70 ¥500 – ¥900 China: ≈ $1.50 – $4.50 CN¥10 – CN¥30 Tourist area, main course
Japan: ≈ $6 – $16 ¥1,000 – ¥2,500 China: ≈ $6 – $15 CN¥40 – CN¥100 Local market or stand
Japan: ≈ $3.20 – $6.30 ¥500 – ¥1,000 China: ≈ $1.50 – $5.20 CN¥10 – CN¥35 Mixed drink, bar
Japan: ≈ $3.20 – $9.50 ¥500 – ¥1,500 China: ≈ $9 – $18 CN¥60 – CN¥120 House wine, restaurant
Japan: ≈ $8 – $19 ¥1,200 – ¥3,000 China: ≈ $12 – $37 CN¥80 – CN¥250 Cafe or street stall
Japan: ≈ $1.30 – $3.20 ¥200 – ¥500 China: ≈ $1.20 – $2.70 CN¥8 – CN¥18 Standard route
Japan: ≈ $44 – $160 ¥7,000 – ¥25,000 China: ≈ $12 – $22 CN¥80 – CN¥150 Metered or typical fare
Japan: ≈ $3.20 – $5.70 ¥500 – ¥900 China: ≈ $0.30 – $0.60 CN¥2 – CN¥4 Single ride
Japan: ≈ $1 – $2.20 ¥160 – ¥350 China: ≈ $0.30 – $0.74 CN¥2 – CN¥5 Grab / Bolt / Uber
Japan: ≈ $13 – $32 ¥2,000 – ¥5,000 China: ≈ $3 – $7.40 CN¥20 – CN¥50 Tourist shop
Japan: ≈ $1.90 – $4.40 ¥300 – ¥700 China: ≈ $3 – $7.40 CN¥20 – CN¥50 Tourist shop
Japan: ≈ $10 – $19 ¥1,500 – ¥3,000 China: ≈ $4.50 – $12 CN¥30 – CN¥80 Ceramics, textiles, etc.
Japan: ≈ $10 – $44 ¥1,500 – ¥7,000 China: ≈ $7 – $30 CN¥50 – CN¥200 Data package
Japan: ≈ $10 – $32 ¥1,650 – ¥5,000 China: ≈ $12 – $27 CN¥80 – CN¥180 Pharmacy or shop
Japan: ≈ $5.10 – $9.50 ¥800 – ¥1,500 China: ≈ $5 – $27 CN¥35 – CN¥180 Supermarket
Japan: ≈ $0.51 – $0.95 ¥80 – ¥150 China: ≈ $0.60 – $0.89 CN¥4 – CN¥6 Pack of 20
Japan: ≈ $3.50 – $4.10 ¥550 – ¥650 China: ≈ $2.20 – $4.50 CN¥15 – CN¥30 Pack of 20 tablets
Japan: ≈ $5.70 – $9.50 ¥900 – ¥1,500 China: ≈ $0.74 – $2.20 CN¥5 – CN¥15 Spray or lotion
Japan: ≈ $2.50 – $5.10 ¥400 – ¥800 China: ≈ $1.50 – $3.70 CN¥10 – CN¥25 Local barbershop
Japan: ≈ $9 – $29 ¥1,350 – ¥4,500 China: ≈ $2.20 – $8.90 CN¥15 – CN¥60 Laundry service
Japan: ≈ $1.90 – $6.30 ¥300 – ¥1,000 China: ≈ $3 – $7.40 CN¥20 – CN¥50 Standard full-body massage
Japan: ≈ $25 – $51 ¥4,000 – ¥8,000 China: ≈ $15 – $60 CN¥100 – CN¥400 Basic cut, salon
Japan: ≈ $19 – $32 ¥3,000 – ¥5,000 China: ≈ $7 – $18 CN¥50 – CN¥120 Entrance ticket
Japan: ≈ $6 – $13 ¥1,000 – ¥2,000 China: ≈ Up to $18 Up to CN¥120 Organized excursion
Japan: ≈ $32 – $76 ¥5,000 – ¥12,000 China: ≈ $18 – $52 CN¥120 – CN¥350 Organized excursion 6-8h
Japan: ≈ $32 – $63 ¥5,000 – ¥10,000 China: ≈ $30 – $60 CN¥200 – CN¥400 Local cuisine cooking class
Japan: ≈ $25 – $51 ¥4,000 – ¥8,000 China: ≈ $45 – $120 CN¥300 – CN¥800 Tourist prices are about 3.1× the fair price in China, against 2.5× in Japan.
Japan 21st lowest of 60
China 8th highest of 60
What is expected in each country, so you neither stiff anyone nor overpay.
Japan Tipping is considered rude in Japan, never tip in restaurants, taxis, or hotels. Exceptional service is simply the standard and staff may feel insulted by an offered tip.
China Tipping is not customary in China and can sometimes cause offense. In upscale hotels and tourist areas, small tips of 10-20 CNY for porters or guides are accepted.
Yes. In China you pay about 30% less than in Japan at fair prices. TruePrice Index: Japan 135, China 95 (100 is the median of the 60 countries I track). 21 of the 29 items cost less in China.
A week is cheaper in China: about $150 at fair prices, against $220 in Japan. That covers two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride a day. Flights and accommodation are not included. At tourist-trap prices the same week runs about $530 in Japan and $495 in China.
In China: food and drinks cost about 3% less there on average. A restaurant meal costs $6 – $16 in Japan and $6 – $15 in China, street food $3.20 – $6.30 and $1.50 – $5.20.
In China: tourist prices there are about 3.1× the fair price on average, against 2.5× in Japan. The biggest gaps in China: men's haircut (8.7×), city taxi 1 km (6.7×), and cooking class (4.9×).
Where these numbers come from, and how the comparison works.
How to cite
TruePrice, Japan vs China, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/compare/japan-vs-china/
Spotted a price that looks off? Email me at contact@truepriceapp.com and I will check it.
TruePrice keeps fair and tourist prices for both countries, and 58 more, on your phone. Offline too. Free on iPhone and Android.
