✦ Compare countries
Japan vs United States
United States is {pct} {word} than Japan. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United States to match Japan.
Japan vs United States at a glance — United States is 10% more expensive than Japan overall. Average net salary: $4,300/mo vs $2,600/mo. Top income tax: 37% vs 45%.
| Japan | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 95 | 105 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 45% | 37% |
| VAT / sales tax | 10% | 0% |
| Social security (employee) | — | 7.7% |
| Corporate tax | 30% | 21% |
| Capital gains | 20.3% | 20% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $2,600/mo | $4,300/mo |
| Minimum wage | $1,300/mo | $1,257/mo✓ |
| GDP per capita | $35,951✓ | $90,027✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.2%✓ | — |
| Life expectancy | 84 yr✓ | 79 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | High |
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | No |
✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →
⚖ Related comparisons
? Frequently asked questions
Is Japan cheaper than United States?
United States is about 10% more expensive than Japan overall — its cost-of-living index is 105 versus 95 for Japan.
How much do you need to earn in United States to live like in Japan?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Japan is worth about $82,358 in United States. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Japan or United States?
United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in Japan.