Quote:
Originally Posted by steadyboy
Larabell, can you confirm/dispel the strong rumour about the cost of supermarkets selling western items? I am told they are very expensive, but can not tell how expensive is very expensive, if you get my point. How much would I pay for a jar of coffee? a litre of beer? a Big Mac? In general, I guess noodles would be cheaper and potatoes would be dearer, but are they twice the price, 5 times the price, 10 times the price?
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America brands are a little more but for the most part it's not crazy expensive like most people say. I visited Tokyo this past spring and found that most things were no more than 20% higher in price and in most cases I think only about 10% higher than Los Angeles.
Things like rent are not bad. Transportation will cost you more than say NYC but using the trains in Tokyo is still more economical than having to maintain a car payment, insurance and gas in a place like Los Angeles.
I hope these comparisons help.
I think most of the notions that Japan is very expense come from tourists that found fancy cafe in a tourist/shopping area and ordered an infamous $7 coffee. This is rare and if you really want a good coffee you can actually get one from a vending machine for about $1.20. Hot and tasty in a nice can.