Shocking Prices in Japan vs USA

[@PaolofromTOKYO]

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[@djspinningblades]

your 95 precent on the prices but most states and town in america are different

[@WalkRideFly]

Not to mention the quality of ingredients in Japan is far better than for the foods in the US. We pay more for lower quality. I used your recommendations for my last trip to Tokyo in 2018.😄I hope to visit again very soon. I have been watching your videos for many years, too. You are awesome. Cali represent!

[@Isaac-qe2in]

Sticker Shock? Sincerely, B🆔️enflation!

[@Cornholio_X]

You should come to Belgium to travel. You''ll be surprised how much everything expensive here is. For an example the Tesla you said, i checked it in my country. The model Y all-wheel drive long range costs here (and i haven't checked other parts) 52 970 euros. That's about 58.433,86 dollars now. 1 gallon is about 3,8 liters. gas prices about 1 liter 1,60 to 1,80 euros. That's around my guess 6 to 6,5 euros or 6,60 to 8 dollars for a gallon. Paying taxes in Belgium is the number 1 or 2 in Europe.

[@greekre]

never buy american supermarket items, have the chemicals in them are toxic and band in most countries

[@jehfes]

Having moved to Japan from the US, I agree it's much cheaper here. In addition to the things mentioned in this video, the biggest differences for me are rent, utilities, health insurance, and transportation. The overall quality of life and safety is much higher here as well.

[@linuxman7777]

It used to not be that way. I remember a decade ago when Japan was a premium destination. The exchange rate really has benefited US travelers.

[@Dangic23]

@@linuxman7777 Japan was only expensive in the early 1990s.

[@dampinpoe1]

What kind of visa are you on?

[@Dangic23]

@@dampinpoe1 I’ve been in Japan for a year now and my cost of living has been about 50% cheaper than what it was in the Florida Panhandle. We are also traveling and eating it 75% more than in Florida. We are on a Recreational Visa and already submitted for Residency visa.

[@linuxman7777]

@@Dangic23 relative to dollars it was between 2008 and 2014 as well. For a time the Usd was 1 to 80 yen

[@gotakazawa408]

I'm a Japanese resident living in the countryside, and I buy some of my groceries at discount supermarkets. For example, I can get a 2-liter bottle of water or green tea for around 100 yen there, which is less than half the price compared to popular convenience stores.

[@kcpisonet]

Try looking for cheap bottled 2 liter water at Jason, Belc or Avin. Those are the three groceries where we found 2 liter bottled water for only 70 yen or less than 400 yen for a six pack. My aunt works at an egg factory in Katori Chiba so we basically have egg supply for free, but if we ran out of eggs they are cheap at Seimiya Supermarket every thursday ^_^

[@18Williametimm]

what are good supermarkets to buy these stuffs? I'm going to Japan next week!

[@gotakazawa408]

@@18Williametimm Welcome to Japan! One of the most well-known and popular chains among foreign visitors is Don Quijote. The selection varies by store size, but they offer a wide range of products, from snacks and beverages to character merchandise and luxury brand bags. You’ll find their stores in most major cities. While it can get crowded with many tourists, which may be a downside, simply browsing around could be a unique experience in itself.

[@vister6757]

Nice!

[@gilangp2011]

Wow, I am a foreigner working in Miyagi ken. It's hard to find Japanese fluent English for sure.

[@n1k1george]

I travel to Japan frequently and consistently amazed how cheap and delicious food is here. Step away from Tokyo to the smaller cities and difference is even more marked. My price reference back home is Portland, Oregon where cost of living is fairly high - especially eating out. Overall, your assessment reflects my own observations.

[@linuxman7777]

It used to not be that way, but with the exchange rate, I came in $1200 under budget my most recent trip. while in 2018, I was exactly on budget

[@NetITGeeks]

Japanese products are also better quality. However, the rate of pay or salary of Japanese workers are much much lower than that of Americans. A Civil Engineer in Japan for example earns almost 30-40% less than a Civil Engineer in US or even Canada. So the prices may seems lower in Japan but so does the salaries.

[@Mwoods2272]

Check out the cost of living. Tokyo is almost 40% lower than Los Angeles.

[@neubro1448]

And compare to the salaries of the CEOs.

[@abckenshin3825]

So is it a better life than Japan? The quality? The safety? The medical costs? The infrastructure? Japan is heaven compared to America. In every way.

[@neubro1448]

@@abckenshin3825 Overall, yes!

[@GiveMeYourKnees]

That’s what I thought. They make less so those prices seem normal. A google search tells me that someone in Japanese makes a little more then $7 and hour where here in the US you make between $12-$16 dollars an hour average.

[@Raquel96]

This was so interesting!! Thank you for doing all the math and sharing Paolo! 🙌🏻

[@stephaniewaldhart6280]

Universal city walk is going to be super expensive. Not comparable to what average cost is in LA. That being said cost in LA is still more expensive.

[@TiffanyLeClair]

For sure! I was floored with the Taco Bell comparison. I had to look up the taco prices where I live (AZ) and it’s half the cost than Universal City Walk… still more expensive than Tokyo.

[@SailorVenusYaten1001]

100% Citywalk has its "taxes" to charge.

[@NovaDeb]

Agree!

[@NotUrStupidName]

a lot of the grocery store prices are the exact same hete im texas, and he lives in Tokyo which gas a higher cost of living than other places in Japan so just like LA

[@cyclicmusings2661]

I bet the prices aren't too different over in Universal CityWalk Orlando near where I live. While there is no Taco Bell inside Citywalk Orlando, there is a Moe's. I have not been inside to compare prices though.

[@user-xm5cj5js2d]

I am Japanese. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and wars around the world, the Japanese government has provided huge amounts of support to companies. It's support for electricity and gas and oil. As a result, manufacturing costs haven't soared and prices have remained stable. In other words, people have been less in debt. As a result, the Japanese government's policies have been very good. Although, imported goods are expensive due to the weak yen lol😅

[@garlicgirl3149]

Interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing that bit of information.

[@CollideWithTheSlope]

oh wow interesting

[@ozgoldebronokia8210]

How about inflation? Japan has come out of deflation cycle since 2022, but they get the wrong type of inflation.

[@AutobotSimmer]

​@@ozgoldebronokia8210as of June, it's 2.8% but must be carefully diverted to certain people like the rich & laws forbidding price hikes ( I have learned the government controls the price of eggs and it's illegal to raise the prices. Not sure if this is for everything) if most people feel like costs are like before global inflation started. 🤔

[@afizi1213]

hummm so do you think its aa time or not the time to southeast asia people study and living in japan?

[@magnus3407]

Hey Paolo! I was in Japan with some friends last month, and of course we had to stop by the store that sells your hot sauce in Tokyo. We had a nice chat with one of the employees there, and we love the hot sauce. Thanks for consistently putting out great content, too!

[@tomolorenzo6709]

This video is spot on. I've been comparing US/JPN prices since the start of the year. There are some grocery items, however, that I prefer to get at the military base, no matter the price: 1) frozen lumpia shanghai, 2) apple pie, 3) baby back, baby back, baby back...ribs.

[@francisnguyen6349]

Splendid work, Paolo.

[@oh_aces]

This is nothing. I'm in NYC, and decent quality eggs were $11/dozen. They only recently went back down to... $8. Another thing I noticed when I went to japan years ago, was the the quality and flavor of our produce and almost all ingredients in the US are noticeably inferior to what I had in Japan. When I mentioned this to a small farmer at a farmers market in NY, he told me that everything here is sold for looks and size, so the flavor is not really a consideration, and that's why most fruit and veggies here are bland. After I started growing my own greens and tomatoes at home I noticed that I found everything but the most expensive grocery store tomatoes to be inedible. We're also paying for every little thing, all the time... not to mention "healthcare." As for "junk food." I used to pay $1.50 for a bag of chips only 3-4 years ago, and now it is $3.50 for the same bag and there are LESS chips inside. All this while grocery chains are posting RECORD profits. We're being badly scammed in the US.

[@davidstone-haigh4880]

And here in the UK. Our weekly shopping and fuel bills for eg, have quadrupled since 2020. Yet, shareholders and top brass still get massive handouts and bonuses.

[@theo7049]

The US is just a big corporation

[@RelaxingShunsui]

in denmark it would be around $6 a dozen

[@ehabhenedeh9945]

AMAZING video again for sure

[@xavierpena5139]

Hi Paolo and fam, thanks for your videos. We are from Toronto Canada and recently came back from vacay in Japan. We noted very similar numbers as you. Food was +25% less, greater quality and no tip. Electronics and.non luxury clothes, depending and what you needed, prices were the same or a bit less in Japan. Definitely a great time to visit, cannot wait to go back!

[@darkflame031]

Toronto is super expensive and the Canadian dollar weak

[@TravelingSoloLogs]

Awesome video bro! You went into great detail! 😃 I still can't believe taco bell is that expensive in the states!

[@MrNgMichael]

They're not usually that expensive. Only the universal one. Everything at a regular location should be $3-4 cheaper.

[@FoxBodyFitness]

I watch Chani in Japan and she has a video covering all her living expenses. What I find astounding is her home insurance. My home insurance in Florida because of “hurricanes” has changed from $185/month to $330/month. Chani pays for maximum home coverage- including earthquake damage and she showed $40/month. I understand the average American salary is higher than in Japan, but we are being extorted in every industry because we are “Americans.”

[@BadBellyBlues]

Totally agree! I don't understand how a Mac book and a Tesla are cheaper in Japan!

[@michaels3003]

​@@BadBellyBlues, they are both made in China, btw. The prices quoted in this video are based on the current very high USD to Yen exchange rate. This will change in the future, but it's impossible to guess when.

[@alro8613]

Blah blah … said the white that know nothing

[@kenc2257]

Large US corporations are making HUGE profits keeping prices relatively high, even after extensive stock buybacks (good news for investors). Large Japanese corporations are also profitable, but their profits are more modest [for example, Japanese executive salaries are MUCH more modest than salaries for US executives].

[@keySkullghost]

Americans are being extorted BY Americans

[@prajwalpaedeshi8484]

Looks like my fav KZbinr uploaded a new video

[@yaz-sb]

Easily one of the best channels on youtube! Great content and high quality videos.

[@Jbomb64]

I've always wanted to live in Japan before, but after watching this video it makes me want to live there even more! 😁💯

[@elliotc88]

Japan is amazing value right now. I visited in 2018 and 2019 and it was OK then. Visited again this year and was shocked at how affordable it all was. Crazy. Loved it though. So much so I am going again next month.

[@mching7282]

Just came back from Tokyo and we were just so happy that everything was cheaper 😊 Shopped as much as we could fit into our luggage 😂

[@cyclicmusings2661]

I'm going on a little over two week trip to Japan in November! I already knew some things were going to be up to half as expensive but some of these price differences are crazy! Greetings from another US tourist hotspot - Orlando, Florida!

[@mbank3832]

Japanese products aren't just cheaper in general but they are better quality too. Their package is creative and their restaurant menu has new items from time to time

[@afizi1213]

but if compare to china ,huhh so different oh

[@mbank3832]

@@afizi1213 tf you're talking about ? not talking about china here. learn the difference

[@comsuonkhi]

@@afizi1213china with poisonous and dirty food, you like cheap and bad quality?

[@shootingkites]

And great customer service. Whether you go to McDonalds in Japan or 7-11… they will say “hello” and “thank you.” And it’s clean! 😮

[@LABusDiaries]

USA & China still got more Gold medals 🥇

[@christopherharris6005]

Awesome video as always Paolo. You always keep us well informed on all things in Japan.

[@ernestoeide6384]

I’m from San Diego. I can’t wait to go there in April. I’ve heard about the prices there through my friends that’s been there recently. They said the same. Great content. Hope to run into you there.

[@havok3344]

Dining is so affordable in Japan this year. You can allocate more of your vacation budget to shopping and site seeing.

[@NovaDeb]

I have family living in LA. None of the prices are comparable to most of the rest of the USA. The LA prices are much much higher. Of course buying anything in a tourist trap place like Venice Beach and Universal Theme Park is going to be be even higher than in the city of LA. Outrageous!😮

[@andr_w]

The median family income in the LA region $91,000 as of 2022 (13.4 million JPY at current exchange rates). And, i beleive that all indications are that 2023 and 2024 still were higher as well, maybe breakinf 100k (almost 15m JPY) for the first time. Tokyo-to family incomes on the other hand are 720万6000 (current rates mean this is about $49,000). A lot of the cost differences are just the difference in cost of living in each region.

[@gagamba9198]

You make a very good point. It's good idea to look at the per cent of disposable household income spent on food. In the US it was 11.2% in 2023, up from 10.2% in 2019. This is both eating at home and dining out, and dining out includes the aspect of convenience. On 24 Nov 2024, The Maninchi newspaper reported expenditures on food account for 30 per cent of Japanese household spending. Data from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. It's the same deal when comparing housing prices. Many compare residences, but these are very different (size, amenities, non-house land, etc). It's better to compare cost per square metre. And, of course, US real estate tends to be an appreciating asset unlike much of Japan's.

[@BeingJapan]

Thanks for the price comparisons. As a Canadian, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Japan. Taxes must be lower here for consumer goods and food.

[@pedra12]

Another awesome vid Paolo. I am planning a trip next year with some friends. I can't wait to go visit.

[@lhl]

I travel back and forth often and while in my experience, Tokyo has actually been cheaper for years vs the big US coastal cities, post-pandemic, the gap has widened dramatically. Japan actually managed to keep inflation down to 10-20% over the past few years (at the cost of tanking the JPY exchange rate) while prices in the US prices has just continued to skyrocket (+50-100% for fast food, restaurant meals, etc). As for people telling Paolo to go visit Texas or the midwest on his next trip, sure, and you guys should go to Tottori for your next Japan visit as well.

[@WW-cp4gb]

Paolo also went to the worst store price wise. The notorious Kroger family owns a family of stores that charges different rates for the same item. Kroger owns a store called Ruler that is significantly cheaper and it is similar to Aldi. The first rule in the United States to save money is to never buy non-food items at grocery stores. Better off going to Walmart, Costco or Sam's club.

[@Siwyenbast]

As someone who lives in the US, LA is one of the most expensive cities in the country. As far as states go, Texas has the 9th cheapest cost, but you also have to look at the income in the state. The cheapest ones usually have some of the worst income rates, so they have to price things lower.

[@nish221100]

I have co-workers who make CA salaries, but live in the hinterlands of TX. They do very well.

[@FoxBodyFitness]

I agree with you, but a lot of the prices he showed is the same as the store in my smaller hometown in Florida. 😢

[@SnowAnayathatweirdgirl]

It depends where in Texas. West Texas you can make more money and it's reasonably priced but apartments and housing is getting higher. East Texas it's more expensive than West Texas but the wage is higher and that's about it. The problem with West Texas is you either have to live in Odessa, Midland or El Paso. El Paso is the best choice, but people wanting more money pick Midland/Odessa and end up realizing when they get here what price they really pay. You're making money but have hardly anything to do here.

[@lainiwakura1776]

@@nish221100 I hear Texas has high property taxes, so their money is going there.

[@fatbastard9187]

Well in CA, the is a HUGE gap between classes. Its either you're POOR or RICH. no middle class. Its a poorly run state with horrendous laws like you can rob a store as long as its below $999 or its okay to be in a relationship with a minor if that person is 14 years old now. SICK DEMOCRATS

[@greeneclipse8088]

Not only are Japan prices cheaper, but they're at the upmost quality!

[@chauc1781]

mitsuwa in l.a. has really bad products from japan. they should bring in lawson products

[@nueat6]

don't ride it too hard you might fall off.

[@monstercameron]

press x to doubt. I've been there enough to have the magic cleared from my eyes

[@tatsumasa6332]

because we buy them from China.

[@anonymous134y]

​@nueat6 us food it notorious for being bad quality though. Tons of ingredients banned worldwide. FDA USDA are joke organizations.

[@derekhung6625]

Not to only mention that US sets prices without tax included, while Japan these days display prices tax-inclusive. Makes the vast price differences stark. I come from Australia it is ridiculous how expensive eating out food prices have become.

[@terenceyuen4424]

Also ZERO tipping in Japan 👏👏👏

[@joshuakolton9955]

Making a visit to Japan next month. I’m thinking I’d want to move there.

[@linuxman7777]

Only if you keep earning USD, for the people in Japan, they are losing purchasing power

[@thetalkingshrimp5683]

Paolo, i used to walk Venice for years, happy to hear you just did it, but since you're a ca native you've probably done it a few times too.

[@Karen-dv3ns]

As someone who lives in Cali this was super informative, thanks :D

[@PaolofromTOKYO]

Glad it was helpful!

[@velvetMXO]

spot on. it is expensive since coming back to America from Japan. I have lived in Yamanashi, for 4 years and Hiroshima for 1yrs.

[@JapanMasterChannel]

Very interesting comparison🤑

[@roonboo96]

IT is so difficult to compare prices and you’ve done a good job of it. People in the comments have rightly pointed out cost of living and salary differences between the two countries, but that is also picky at the same time, because we can do value comparisons. What I find intriguing is that in Canadian dollars, our cost of living here is so much higher than the US; for example one of those MacBooks here (the 13 inch one) is $1300 before taxes. When we compare apples to apples here in Canada, for example, prices of products on Amazon, we pay substantially more, and when you convert those prices from Yen to Canadian dollars, it is only a bit cheaper in Japan. The yen right now is almost on par with the Canadian dollar, so for Canadians, it won’t be that much cheaper to go to Japan, but is always expensive to go to the US. Even getting off this rock is expensive for Canadians. Americans can travel to Japan on Zipair, for example, for a few hundred dollars. For Canadians, we will spend around $2000 in airfare to go to Japan. And that is each way. Even travelling around our own country is expensive, which is why most Canadians elect to drive everywhere rather than take a train or a plane. I live about 4 hours outside of Toronto by car. I could fly there for about $550 whereas driving will cost me a couple of tanks of gas, there and back - around $150-$200. No comparison. I guess the lesson here is don’t move to Canada! Hahaha!

[@mikowski01]

Fire thumbnail!!!! :) and a great watch!! :3

[@MarcelaChandía]

I'm from Chile and studied in Japan in 2012, 2013 and 2019. Japan was always cheaper in food, entertainment, books, household items, etc. So this doesn't surprise me. And the quality in Japan was always better

[@fourleafclover2377]

This was awesome I’m in Burbank too bad I couldn’t catch you on the streets 😂 Seeing the Ralph’s and Walmart prices is cool

[@YonFonTube]

No. The Taco Bell at universal city walk up charges a few dollars on everything. Bad example to use. Crunchy taco supreme is $3.09

[@eoinoconnell185]

I'm going to Japan next month. My decision to visit was based upon the Big Mac index. At the time I looked at it, a Big Mac in America was something like $5.35 versus $3.05 in Japan. That's a price discrepancy that cannot hold and has to be taken advantage of.

[@diuneimaaaaaa]

Food quality is better too

[@SherrifOfNottingham]

One note about theme parks (though I don't know about Japan's Universal and Disney destinations) a lot of smaller Japanese theme parks are pay _per ride_ and have smaller (if any) cover charge just to enter the park. This can benefit tourists who might make a theme park a part of their day, rather than their whole day, as the only way the massive cover charge and free rides works out is if you stay all day riding more rides than your body is likely willing. Though places like Universal/Disney/Sixflags make a majority of their income through concessions, which is why they do the large entry fee with no ride fees since it incentivizes staying in the park and paying 7 dollars for a bottle of water. There are definitely benefits to both models, a park designed around you staying all day is great... if you want to stay all day, but if you want to ride a couple rides while visiting other nearby destinations the "per ride" approach of many Japanese theme parks ends up being cheaper and more flexible. But it all depends on what you want to do. Americans don't really "spend an afternoon at a theme park" they either go for the entire day or they don't go at all. I've also found that the price gouging of theme parks and movie theaters is actually not common practice in other countries, the "venue tax" is not normal and it'd be nice if other american's started to realize that a place refusing to allow you to bring your own food into the venue so they can sell it to you for insane prices is actually a scam.

[@だにえる豪州]

Sydney, Australia is also expensive, cost me $4.90 AU for 1 Dozen (12) Eggs, that's caged eggs free range cost more, around $5.60 Per Dozen, also that's for a cheap brand. Milk $1.50 Per Litre, $4.50 for 3 Litres, more expensive brands $2-3 per Litre. Last time I purchased Petrol it was $2 per Litre(Standard 91 RON), that's about $7 Per Gallon.

[@rmmmmt2796]

I live in Louisiana. We pay almost 1/3 less of the price than compared to Los Angeles. I would say the prices between Louisiana and Japan are pretty comparable. Keep in mind we have a 4.45% sales tax and depending on your local local municipalities they can make it as high as 11.5%.

[@connick0712]

This was fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

[@WMARUoriginal]

Yay used the code and orders more bottles and also a shirt! Keep up the great work!

[@lichin11]

If you're in LA, shop at Costco, Walmart, or Safeway (in that order) for reasonably priced food.

[@Shadowclaw25]

where in the usa u shop for healthy food ? or is it a plane that bings u away from usa ^^

[@lichin11]

@@Shadowclaw25 I'm going to assume your question is serious. Look at the produce, dairy, and meat sections in those stores that I mentioned while staying away from processed, packaged "food" items. It should go without saying...avoid fast food places and prepare most of your food at home instead of eating out at restaurants.

[@cyclicmusings2661]

I wouldn't recommend Costco for tourists unless they're staying for well over a week to justify buying something in bulk. My personal favorite place for cheap groceries is Aldi for pretty much everything, however certain things like meat and fresh produce might be cheaper elsewhere.

[@CostcoSamurai]

Thank you for the informative video! I’ve noticed that many KZbinrs visiting Japan highlight how advantageous it is to take advantage of the weak yen. Conversely, Japanese people or residents returning from abroad often share their surprise at the high prices in the US. With this contrast becoming more widely discussed, could it prompt the Japanese government to adjust pricing policies for foreigners? After all, Japan is facing significant debt challenges. Additionally, strengthening the yen or increasing interest rates could have broader economic implications, potentially leading to global market disruptions, similar to what we saw last week with the yen carryover trade. Great video as alway Paolo!

[@Yo0T0oB]

American here and Japan has a much higher living standards than the US.

[@MonProj3ct]

Would pay more to live in Japan over USA.

[@linuxman7777]

If you are earning US wages it is, but for the Japanese they are suffering alot right now, wages are low, import prices are high, and work is very hard. Right now is a great time to be making USD.

[@ElvisRocking1]

@@MonProj3ct see ya!

[@DietBajaBlast]

NO IT DOES NOT

[@mikeymaster2494]

@@linuxman7777 exactly you're right, Now compare New York's Manhattan salary to Tokyo's salary

[@donaldgoodrich2493]

I live in Michigan, and those prices seemed spot on for what it cost to live here. I always thought when I watched your channel that it seemed convenience store food was way cheaper in Japan. Now I know that it is!

[@FranciscoRodriguez-ly9so]

In Washington too…with the exception of Taco Bell and panda, although he was in a tourist zone. Also McDonald’s is more expensive here.

[@lin90210]

I'm in the UK. The food pricing and foreign exchange rates are fluctuation (more like increasing weekly with food prices) during this cost of living crisis that I can't even keep track of the dollar rate and food prices. All I know is during the pandemic I saw US prices fly higher than the UK. My hong konger dad is totally shocked. He always thought US was the land of the cheap...well no more no more. Although looking at the LA prices it is similar in the UK. Japan is cheaper. However housing may be more in Tokyo than UK (not including London's housing prices).

[@Gubers]

Four year of Bidenomics will do that. Worst leadership the U.S. has ever seen. They keep talking about giving more and more free stuff to lower income people, but they are the one’s making everything so expensive that lower income people can afford less and less. It’s a socialist scheme that makes more and more people reliant on the government. Then the politicians run on expanding free stuff, and taxing the rich more and they win. Then they make things more expensive with bad policy and absurd levels of spending. Then more people are dependant on government. Repeat until so many people depend on handouts that those politicians can’t lose. Cause the majority are afraid of losing their livelihood which is the government just giving them everything for nothing in return. And then the people that work hard to get ahead go backwards so fast that even respectable careers aren’t enough to afford to raise a family and own a basic home. So then they depend on government promises and handouts. Not far off from a socialist, poverty stricken garbage dump now.

[@mocochan]

Yep, I visited LA this summer and prices in the States are crazy high😂. At Dodgers Stadium a bottle of water cost $7 and a French fried potato cost $10 or something! I know it’s an expensive place to buy food but food in a supermarket was really high too. I bought a sandwich and it was like $7.50 where I can buy it $2 in Tokyo😅. I can’t live in LA. It’s too expensive!!

[@Raquel96]

The wheelchair and stroller rentals being $25 in the US vs a few dollars in Japan is shocking wow

[@terenceyuen4424]

For us Canadians it's cheaper to fly to Tokyo and go to Disneyland than fly down south to Disney California🙃

[@Raquel96]

@@terenceyuen4424 I’m Canadian too so this is great to know!

[@ChickensAndGardening]

@@terenceyuen4424 Plus, no men in dresses in Tokyo Disneyland.

[@csvega]

Aww does thar scare you? You can't catch the g4y don't worry you fuckibg clown Booo hooo

[@TheRealLink]

7:18 commenting from Southeast Michigan here, obviously those are some well, LA prices! Cut them by 35-50% and that's what our local Taco Bell costs. Just got a Steak Quesadilla yesterday and it's about $6. Chips and Cheese might be $2.50-2.80. Wow! Great video so far and interesting. I also remember food, coffees, etc, being significantly cheaper when in Malaysia (KL) and Dubai, respectively.

[@epektasis242]

Thing that surprised me the most is a 12oz bottle of tabasco is $6.86 and Paolo's sauce is $18 making hot sauce nearly 200% more expensive in Japan. 😂😂😂

[@fishmanfishman6511]

Love Paulo's hot sauce. But, don't like the inflated price of $18.00 plus shipping

[@ricksmith3265]

I live in the LA area and went to Tokyo with my son about 18 months ago. I had the exact same feelings you did, that it was actually less expensive in Tokyo than LA.

[@mattcy6591]

I mean if you are comparing Los Angeles to Tokyo both large metropolitan cities, it is a fair comparison. But Universal City Walk is a premium priced area.

[@Mwoods2272]

True but the prices at City Walk will be close to the same if you went to Panda or Mickie D's in Sacramento, maybe a 2% higher at City Walk.

[@NoWhere2Hide-t5f]

True but wouldn't it be better to compare Tokyo to NYC since those are consider a place for most tourist?

[@Mwoods2272]

@@NoWhere2Hide-t5f Except he visited Los Angeles not New York.

[@CoelhoSports]

@Mwoods2272 Title of vid is japan vs usa, not "a cali neighborhood vs tokyo". I don't think gas prices are anywhere near that high at any station in florida. It's been in the low 3's for a long time in my area.

[@FranciscoRodriguez-ly9so]

Los angeleno here, city walk prices are definitely higher by at least $2 for panda and more for Taco Bell…it’s a tourist zone. And I’ve lived in WA, McDonald’s is more expensive there than in L.A.!

[@JZCROW]

12:20 Not me thinking about buying my next laptop in Japan...😅 can I stay with u to save some hotel money Paolo 😂😂

[@darkangelgaming1117]

Sadly, prices are much higher in the LA area which throws these statistics off. I live in the southern middle part of the country and was surprised to hear what they charge out there vs here. Example: the dragon roll out there is $20 but here it is $15.

[@Mwoods2272]

The same could be said for prices outside the Tokyo area. Sushi in Shibuya and Shinjuku is definitely more expensive than Tottori or Kanazawa.

[@FranciscoRodriguez-ly9so]

Nah he went to an upscale sushi place. You can find a good dragon roll In L.A. for $15 too.

[@Squest]

Great video!

[@stanwardoshiro]

The Tesla car stood out the most to me because it is the EXACT same product. And for it being cheaper in Japan, sounds like American corporate greed is to blame.

[@mahomisawa4172]

Im more surprised at how similar the prices are. The companies probably used a converter and just rounded the prices is my guess

[@TheJohnny346]

USA is a more car centric country that relies heavily on owning a car to get around so the demand for any car will be higher which companies will see and price higher. Because most of Japan is traversable by public transportation, there’s less demand for a car and thus cheaper because demand won’t be as high as the US.

[@michaels3003]

Not exactly... For example, only RECENTLY Tesla refreshed the U.S. M3 to catch up with the M3 made in China. I don't know about the MY. I assume, Teslas sold in Japan come from China.

[@michaels3003]

​@@mahomisawa4172, these companies are all international and they operate somewhat differently in different markets.

[@heylookarealdinosaur]

Its actually due to exchange rate fluctations. Today, 1 USD = 147.68 JPY. After conversion, the Japanese price is a couple of hundred bucks higher today at $42,837.

[@Humor-Activity-Club]

Interesting comparisons. Please keep in mind that many prices can vary in different states of the USA. Thanks for doing this type of analysis. Can you do comparisons between the humor types in the countries and the prices of going to a comedy show between the countries?

[@Salem.belkha]

The prices are crazy nowadays 😄😄

[@ThongvanNonsithanh]

Hello Paolo. Thank you for the video. ❤❤

[@Dangic23]

I’ve been in Japan for a year now and my cost of living has been about 50% cheaper than what it was in the Florida Panhandle. We are also traveling and eating it 75% more than in Florida.

[@Arsat74]

As a German, I often wonder about both prices... but prices are rising here too. For example, at a sushi pick up eat happy you get a mixed platter with all kinds of things for 77 dollars... that's 1.7 kg of sushi

[@afizi1213]

its we call down of usa dollar

[@caryngoldsmith6782]

Glad you had a good time in my hometown! My sister loves your hot sauce, btw. I got it for her as a gift.

[@KJSCalderon]

12:17 that's it, I'm moving to Japan.

[@NoWhere2Hide-t5f]

The way you want to compare stuff is pretty much domestic versus import. You also have to look into which store you going to. If you went to wholesale store like Costco/Sam's Club, they would have different prices. If you go to local market place or high end market then it also a different prices. Best way to compare is ask the local which supermarket they would recommended since that would be the best way to compare prices

[@takigan]

I eat out most every day here in the States. So on my trip to Japan in June I actually SAVED money on my food budget for the month while being on vacation because I spent less on food during that same time period than I would've had I been in the States!

[@nueat6]

@takigan 👈captain obvious is here to tell us how much he saves because the yen is weak.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

eat out most every day? yikes, learn to cook, save real money

[@nish221100]

​@@aliali-ce3yf Yes, not to mention it'll probably be healthier. (depending on what you make).

[@steemlenn8797]

You know, learn how to eat at home, stash the money, invest in index ETF and be a millionaire in 40 years.

[@SwitchMaxFX]

When will people learn or rather, when will they stop being lazy and cook at home. You will cut your expenses down to half or 3 quarters of what you spend on take out.

[@thraellock]

I used to live in the middle of the state of WA and I had a lot of Japanese, Hawaii and just asian stores. Uwajimaya was a great place to find decent japanese style sandwiches. Ranch 99 and H mart for chinese, korean and seafood city for Filipino. Where I am now, nothing like this exists and I have to pay a good 50% more than anywhere close. Eggs here are 5.99 90% of the time, you might find some sales or certain brands if I travel around looking for it. I always wanted to move to Japan, do the "teaching english" thing. Its hard when everything is so expensive and I'm not stuck with a mortgage.

[@Cyman75]

While this is surely surprising for many viewers, for someone like me, living in Japan, we need to remind everyone that the median annual wage in Japan is a lot lower than in the US. When you make decent money in the US, but want to live in place that is comparable to Tokyo, such as NYC (or other major cities), you will end up spending a lot more on costs of living than you would in Tokyo (obviously not talking about living in a luxury condo/apartment or such). Other than that, yes, I have been saying to many people for years that Japan is actually rather cheap to live in. Of course, the fact that over the past two or three years, we have also seen inflation here and the Yen plunging to record lows, while (despite record raises) the net incomes have actually been decreasing (due to the inflation), doesn’t make life here more attractive, despite the relatively low prices of groceries and the likes. BTW: Some pf the products compared in the video, can be found even a lot cheaper here in Japan. Thanks for the efforts, Paolo. I hope the viewers who see this and suddenly think they need to move here, just keep in mind that salaries here aren’t exactly amazing for most people. And that living in Japan in the long run doesn’t make most Westerners happy. I don’t say it to discourage anyone, but to say that it can be mentally very challenging (I for one, am always glad whenever I get to take a timeout from it to for the sake of my sanity).

[@mandeepkatwal1270]

I may be wrong but you should also consider salary before taxes and social security’s and benefits.

[@Cyman75]

@@mandeepkatwal1270 From what I see, income tax in Japan ranges from 5% on lowest incomes to 45% on the high end, vs. 10% to 37% in the US. Sales tax in Japan is either 8% for food and such, or 10% for everything else. Health insurance is surely a key difference between US and Japan. While there is universal healthcare here, usually one has to pay 30% of medical expenses. There is an upper ceiling though, in case you have an expensive surgery.

[@biscottaish]

The thing is that prices have dramatically risen in the US in the past few years while wages have mostly stagnated. Companies were price gouging during the pandemic because they could, and prices never went back down. Corporate profits have been very high but more average Americans are struggling at the same time

[@Cyman75]

@@biscottaish The same happened in Japan. We also have things like “shrinkflation” besides many products having become more expensive. Of course, the prices will never go down again or the product content will go back to the levels from before. People buy them anyway, so the companies get away with it. As for stagnant wages, imagine the wages stagnating for three decades - this is Japan. Ever since the economic bubble burst in 1991. With almost zero inflation (even a deflation), the Japanese probably haven’t felt the effects of this so much until now, after three decades, suddenly they got confronted with inflation, which comes as a big shock for most people here. And the record wage increases that the Kishida government is so proud of, are as much an illusion as the supposed 2% inflation which Japan reached and Kishida also prides himself on having achieved. Interestingly, the official inflation numbers don’t take products of daily life into account. In reality, especially the prices for food have gone up significantly. Prices for rice are up by 1000 JPY per 5kg at the moment (one of the main factors for this is the booming inbound tourism, by the way). That is an increase of about 30%. Obviously, this means that products like sushi, sake etc. will also go up if the prices of rice aren’t going down again soon. So in the end, people’s purchasing power in Japan is actually shrinking and the gap between other countries is widening more and more.

[@user-jj2kj3nd7g]

Thanks Joe!

[@chuuya9694]

Inflation is soo crazy 😭😭

[@nicolespruitt675]

It's price gouging, not inflation

[@nish221100]

​@@nicolespruitt675 Yes, I think so too.

[@ArtsyFbShirose]

its both😢

[@anonymous134y]

​​​@@nicolespruitt67550% right. Tons of road blocks Harris Biden government has done causing it to be more expensive for businesses which push it onto consumers. Doesn't help they injected a lot of money into the market after cov raising all prices almost instantly

[@goldenwulf671]

@@chuuya9694 I agree. And if they keep increasing wages, prices will keep going up. And the increase in fuel price helped to increase the goods that are shipped.

[@gunznknives]

Four of us are going to be travelling to Japan next year! The U.S. has been crazy expensive, as of late. I'm glad to see we will be seeing some good values when we arrive! I wish there was a way to book you, Paolo, to give us a tour! :)

[@Rafael_Yemane]

I live in San Diego and the price is higher than average other state of USA. In Japan more people live with their family and they save more money. Also in Japan people don't have much car so I would say living in Japan is much better to live since it's less crime. I guess in Japan they don't spend money on their girlfriend.

[@Mwoods2272]

Paolo is also using Tokyo prices when you go outside of Tokyo the prices are less in other areas of Japan.

[@kookarini]

thank you for not cherry picking the extreme cost difference items like other youtubers and tik tokers. Fast food costs more in California since the minimum wage is the highest in the US.

[@TheDragonshunter]

to be fair Japan beats the entire world on food prices/quality

[@boku1143]

the one in the usa are cheaper proportional to how much you make in then usa

[@terryj3385]

Hmm have you been to SE Asia? Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are right up there in terms of quality/price

[@TheMightyAgency]

... except fruits. I know that if your diet involves a lot of fruits, it's going to be expensive for you. I think there's some sort of fruit grower cartel operating in Japan.

[@user-qm7jw]

@@terryj3385 nah a bunch of tourists get diarrhea there

[@LABusDiaries]

@@TheDragonshunter But they can't beat us in the Olympics

[@OmnipresentOneness]

Canadian here... Prices are even higher in Canada!

[@jacktwiz]

LA is one of the most expensive cities in the world

[@afizi1213]

naaa for me nyc is the most expensive city in world ,so many poor people so sad

[@tatsumasa6332]

EU

[@iggyguy88897]

Come to Australia, we will show you overpriced everything .

[@gaalxystar1873]

As a Honolulu resident we share the same pain.

[@LABusDiaries]

@@jacktwizUSA offers a lot more than Japan. You can experience all cultures, Authentically in one city

[@UNDERTAKER2621]

This is why I love Japan. I live in New York City, and it's very expensive, just like California. However, Japan blew my mind. You said a Big Mac meal at McDonald's in Japan was about $4 and change. I haven't seen that price for the same meal in New York City since 1999-2001 when I was a child in junior high school. Definitely, visiting Japan.

[@info8984]

American here what the FRICK?! We are getting screwed.

[@Keithersk]

Nice video! I'm going to Tokyo this October. I hope the exchange rate is still good by then so I can splurge more on food there!

[@alizate]

Try the Netherlands 😂😂

[@moodbag]

This guy is the most smiley faced person I’ve ever seen. He is always cheesing.

[@MattapoisettinLA]

A couple of things: The 7-11 sandwiches you saw were the “Japanese” versions. They were made with wheat bread before. Now they use a bread similar to Shokupan but probably tweaked for American tastes. Also of the three sandwiches they offer, avoid the tuna the egg salad is ok. the eggs are boiled longer and they use less mayo and it’s not Japanese style. The chicken salad is the thing to get. The 7-11 plans were not to import the food but to broaden the type of food they produced in their regional commissaries. Family Mart tried to open in the US under the name Famima! They opened stores starting in 2005. Unfortunately they only lasted until 2015. Also in LA Don Quixote took over a small chain of Japanese grocery stores and rebranded them Tokyo central. All that said you did yourself a disservice by sticking to chains in tourist traps. First there is inflation happening in the US and it has hit the chains the hardest. Their prices have jumped significantly in the last few years. Also, chains have been offering significant deals through their apps and if your not using them your not getting deals. Plus combine that with going to the ones in Venice and Universal city walk which are tourist traps and add 15-25% to the normal prices. Finally Los Angeles is a tremendous round for food since so many people migrate here. Frequently you will find the largest population of a nationality outside their home country (Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan, Thai Mexican, Salvadoran etc.) each one brings their community and culture to LA adding to it’s Diaspora which also means the range and styles of food in LA is tremendous. Next time you come to LA, Find a tour guide who will navigate you through all of LA which essentially looks like one big strip mall to find the food and other gems located here. You will be amazed. Also, it will allow you to embrace the diversity which combines to create fusion in the food like a kimchi Galbi Taco or a sushi Burrito. Your mind will be blown.

[@kenc2257]

Uh...the guy is a Filipino-American, and has lived in California. He did mention in the video that prices were perhaps/likely more expensive in the tourist areas he visited on this trip. [he's obviously been living in Japan for many years...]

[@higherspirit1]

Traveled to Tokyo and Osaka 2 months ago, avoid tourist traps. You won’t get much of a discount at high end retail places like Chanel, Gucci, or designer colognes. They bump up the prices so that the costs are similar to US despite the exchange rate. The discount can be seen the most outside of tourist areas.

[@azabujuban-hito-dake]

I'm from Switzerland and living in Tokyo. Been living here for almost 8 years. Everytime I go to the US (once a year for work purpose ) I'm always shocked how the richest country in earth is turning into a 3rd world country.

[@susiequsie1980]

Thank Biden/Harris for this!

[@suzannetanaka4950]

@@susiequsie1980 Please don’t bring politics into this discussion.

[@susiequsie1980]

@@suzannetanaka4950 I hear what you are saying but in America we have what's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH so I'll say whatever I want. Don't stifle me or tell me what I can or cannot say.

[@suzannetanaka4950]

@@susiequsie1980 pathetic

[@EvaFuji]

@@suzannetanaka4950 tbh the original comment is pretty political

[@piplup10203854]

This was my biggest shock as well the prices are outrageous! The US being cheap was a surprise to me lol

[@hoodhunter3262]

It was 30-35 years years ago. I remember visiting Waikiki and seeing all the Japanese buying high end good as if it was free. Now it is reverse. Now we go to Tokyo to shop for high end. Buying LV purses in Tokyo seems so cheap

[@kevinm-py1nt]

I visit California twice a year and groceries are a lot more expensive than the Atlanta Georgia area. Gas here is $3.15 a gallon.

[@MEME-nm8mh]

Try to go to IL .... wish you not

[@roystonfarquhar9683]

Hiya, this is what we would pay here in South Africa for some of your items mentioned : Egg- USD-24. Toilet Tissue: USD -61. Paper Towels: USD -82. Bread: USD1-38. Bananas: USD1-79 Milk: USD5-58. Beer: USD1-50. Tabasco: USD3-18. Big Mac Meal USD4-11. Macbook M3: USD2,150-34. The sushi that you mentioned had USD92-40 as the most expensive meal BUT here sushi is generally expensive BUT USD92-40 is about ZAR1,566-15 and for that amount you can have an absolute sushi feast.

[@BrantRaven]

Thanks for another great video Paolo. I live in Melbourne Australia and having done the math I can tell you that Japan is about 45% cheaper overall to where I live. I have EVERY desire to move to and live in Japan.....absolutely ZERO desire for the US. I dont dislike the US....I actually lived there for a while (Texas, Pheonix and Seattle). IT just doesnt suit who I am. Japan does!!!

[@alastairclarke]

We live in Winnipeg and just got back from Japan. Great video! Very difficult to compare apples to apples. My main impression: restaurants/ eating out is MUCH cheaper in Japan (no tipping + healthy food from the konbini!) while groceries are MUCH cheaper in Winnipeg (but honestly, who wants to cook when you can eat at amazing restaurants?). And yes, my kids wanted McDonald's in Tokyo and it was cheaper in Japan (AND better quality).

[@AlienRope]

You went to Cali, the worst place to measure US prices.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

Thought that was Jersey

[@shoked99]

Would love to see a video with your more about your visit to the US. Thanks.

[@vendeta2287]

If you are reading this be healthy and all the best ❤

[@tylerensminger]

Amen