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 6.4 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 4.8 US dollars.
And when we can afford to go to the restaurant, we will pay for a meal consisting of three dishes around 38 US dollars.
And if you want to drink a beer or two, you have to pay extra: 5.8 US dollars (price for 2 bottles)
And if you prefer a Coke, Fanta, Sprite or similar carbonated drink, then you have to pay 0.99 US dollars for a small bottle.
Below you will find the full price list in Japan, including Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda, imported beer, coffee, Burger King or a similar bar, or local beer
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 1.56 thousand Japanese yen. For 100 US dollars you can get 15.6 thousand Japanese yen. And the other way around: For 100 Japanese yen you can get 0.639 US dollars.
Prices: Kyoto Osaka Sapporo Sendai Tokyo Yokohama Chiba Kawasaki Nara Hiroshima
cheap restaurant
$6.4 ($3.8 - $10.8)
68% is less expensive than in United States
local beer
$2.9 ($1.6 - $4.9)
by half less than in United States
coffee
$2.8 ($1.2 - $4.8)
by half less than in United States
bottle of water
$0.72 ($0.64 - $1.3)
65% is less expensive than in United States
Burger King or a similar bar
$4.8 ($4.2 - $5.8)
by half less than in United States
Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda
$0.99 ($0.7 - $1.9)
60% is less expensive than in United States
Price changes in Coffee over the years: 2011: $2.4(¥370), 2012: $2.3(¥360), 2013: $2.3(¥365), 2014: $2.4(¥371), 2015: $2.4(¥374), 2016: $2.4(¥378), 2017: $2.5(¥392), and 2018: $2.5(¥384)
Price changes in A Better Restaurant For A Couple over the years: 2010: $32(¥5K), 2011: $26(¥4K), 2012: $26(¥4K), 2013: $28(¥4.42K), 2014: $26(¥4K), 2015: $32(¥5K), 2016: $32(¥5K), 2017: $29(¥4.5K), and 2018: $26(¥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: $1.9(¥300), 2011: $3.4(¥525), 2012: $3.2(¥500), 2013: $2.4(¥380), 2014: $2.5(¥390), 2015: $2.6(¥400), 2016: $2.2(¥350), 2017: $3.2(¥500), and 2018: $2.6(¥400).
Do carbonated drinks cost more than they used to in Japan?
On average, a bottle of Cola or Pepsi has cost: 2010: $0.74(¥116), 2011: $0.91(¥143), 2012: $0.84(¥131), 2013: $0.9(¥141), 2014: $0.85(¥134), 2015: $0.88(¥137), 2016: $0.82(¥129), 2017: $0.89(¥139), and 2018: $0.83(¥130) in recent years
Price changes in Bottle Of Water over the years: 2010: $0.72(¥112), 2011: $0.75(¥118), 2012: $0.72(¥113), 2013: $0.69(¥108), 2014: $0.69(¥108), 2015: $0.69(¥108), 2016: $0.68(¥106), 2017: $0.69(¥108), and 2018: $0.66(¥104)