See also: food prices cost of living entertainment costs
Can you eat cheaply in restaurants in Japan? What are the prices in affordable pubs in Japan? How much will I have to spend a day when I only eat in fast food restaurants in Japan?
If we are looking for an affordable place to eat, then in a cheap restaurant we will pay about 6.8 US dollars.
With limited time and to avoid spending too much, you can opt for fast food. The cost of a meal set (sandwich, fries, and a soda) is approximately 5.1 US dollars.
And when we can afford to go to the restaurant, we will pay for a meal consisting of three dishes around 41 US dollars.
And if you want to drink a beer or two, you have to pay extra: 6.1 US dollars (price for 2 bottles)
And if you prefer a Coke, Fanta, Sprite or similar carbonated drink, then you have to pay 1 US dollar for a small bottle.
Below you will find the full price list in Japan, including Burger King or a similar bar, bottle of water, cheap restaurant, coffee, or a better restaurant for a couple
See also how prices have changed in previous years: Price changes in previous years in Japan
What currency is used in Japan and what is the conversion rate?
Currency in Japan Japanese yen (JPY ¥). For 10 US dollars you can get 1.48 thousand Japanese yen. For 100 US dollars you can get 14.8 thousand Japanese yen. And the other way around: For 100 Japanese yen you can get 0.678 US dollars.
Prices: Kyoto Osaka Sapporo Sendai Tokyo Yokohama Chiba Kawasaki Nara Hiroshima
cheap restaurant
$6.8 ($4.1 - $11.5)
66% is less expensive than in United States
local beer
$3 ($1.7 - $5.2)
by half less than in United States
coffee
$3 ($1.2 - $5.1)
by half less than in United States
bottle of water
$0.76 ($0.68 - $1.4)
63% is less expensive than in United States
Burger King or a similar bar
$5.1 ($4.4 - $6.1)
by half less than in United States
Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda
$1 ($0.75 - $2)
by half less than in United States
Price changes in Coffee over the years: 2011: $2.5(¥370), 2012: $2.4(¥360), 2013: $2.5(¥365), 2014: $2.5(¥371), 2015: $2.5(¥374), 2016: $2.6(¥378), 2017: $2.7(¥392), and 2018: $2.6(¥384)
Price changes in A Better Restaurant For A Couple over the years: 2010: $34(¥5K), 2011: $27(¥4K), 2012: $27(¥4K), 2013: $30(¥4.42K), 2014: $27(¥4K), 2015: $34(¥5K), 2016: $34(¥5K), 2017: $30(¥4.5K), and 2018: $27(¥4K)
Do we have to pay more for beer in the restaurant than we used to?
This is what beer prices looked like in 2010: $2(¥300), 2011: $3.6(¥525), 2012: $3.4(¥500), 2013: $2.6(¥380), 2014: $2.6(¥390), 2015: $2.7(¥400), 2016: $2.4(¥350), 2017: $3.4(¥500), and 2018: $2.7(¥400).
Do carbonated drinks cost more than they used to in Japan?
On average, a bottle of Cola or Pepsi has cost: 2010: $0.79(¥116), 2011: $0.97(¥143), 2012: $0.89(¥131), 2013: $0.95(¥141), 2014: $0.9(¥134), 2015: $0.93(¥137), 2016: $0.87(¥129), 2017: $0.94(¥139), and 2018: $0.88(¥130) in recent years
Price changes in Bottle Of Water over the years: 2010: $0.76(¥112), 2011: $0.8(¥118), 2012: $0.77(¥113), 2013: $0.73(¥108), 2014: $0.73(¥108), 2015: $0.73(¥108), 2016: $0.72(¥106), 2017: $0.73(¥108), and 2018: $0.7(¥104)