Is Europe or Japan more expensive to visit?

We have travelled in Europe quite a lot and have a pretty good idea about how much Greece is going to cost us. Based on preliminary research of hotels, it seems that Japan is less expensive, or, at least, not more expensive. Airfare is about the same.



As of 2026, the comparison between Europe and Japan has shifted significantly. While Japan historically had a reputation for being "crazy expensive," it is now often more affordable than major Western European cities like London, Paris, or Zurich, particularly due to the favorable exchange rate of the Yen. In Japan, you can find high-quality "business hotels" for $70–$100 per night and world-class meals like ramen or donburi for under $10. Conversely, many parts of Eastern and Central Europe remain cheaper than Japan. The real cost in Japan comes from long-distance transport, specifically the Shinkansen (bullet train), which can be costly since the 2023 price hike of the JR Pass. Europe's expense varies wildly by region; while Scandinavia and Switzerland will almost always be more expensive than Japan, countries like Portugal, Poland, or Albania offer much lower daily costs. Ultimately, if you are comparing a trip to Tokyo/Osaka against a trip to Paris/London, Japan will likely offer better "value for money" regarding the quality of food and accommodation in 2026.

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Accommodation can be one of the biggest factors in the cost of a trip and it's true that Japan is going to be more expensive than most places in Asia. But it's not as bad as you might think.

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In short, I think you will be absolutely fine since your flight and hotels are paid for already. $1000 should be sufficient, but you must be strict with yourself. $50 a day just about creeps overbudget. I think you should set yourself about $30 a day and maybe sometimes jump up to $50/60 if you wanna try something.

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So roughly 2,000 USD per person for lodging, transportation in Japan, food, and souvenirs. You can do it for less, but that was fun for the whole trip. I highly recommend ordering about 50,000 yen in cash from your bank before going.

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Average Food Expense for a Day in Japan You can enjoy much of Japan's rich food culture for around 1,000 yen per meal. If you have at least 3,000 yen per day to spend on food, you will have enough to eat in terms of volume and taste.

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Switzerland Switzerland has a cost of living score of 117.3, making it the most expensive country in Europe. The Swiss Confederation being at the top of the list comes as no surprise to anyone reading this. Switzerland is notoriously expensive.

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For Americans who own cars, gasoline prices are about half the cost than in Japan. Correspondingly, the taxi fare in the US is about half that of Japan. The average Japanese movie ticket is about 1800 yen (~$18), whereas the American average is about $11.

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If you are looking to fly nonstop to Japan on United or one of the more upscale Asian carriers like Japan Airlines will probably cost around $2,000 from the East Coast.

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Tokyo is about 30% more expensive than Kyoto for travelers. If you prefer big cities, modern technology, nightlife and a huge selection of restaurants, Tokyo is for you. If you're after temples, shrines, garden, geisha and hiking, Kyoto is for you. If you've got 4 or more days in Japan, you should see both.

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Kyoto is generally considered to be less expensive than Tokyo when it comes to living expenses such as housing and food. Yes ! Especially for the rent, some restaurants, karaoke? But except for one thing: public transportation.

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That's certainly a comfortable budget as long as you aren't expecting to eat many fancy meals or do a lot of drinking or clubbing. You can probably save some money with strategic use of transit passes (see summaries on Japan Guide or elsewhere). You should look into the Grutto Pass.

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