Japan: cost of living

What is Japan's core inflation rate?

Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 1.7% in August 2026 from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Bureau's national consumer price index for August 2026, released on 18 September. Excluding both fresh food and energy, prices rose 1.9%; the headline rate was also 1.9%.

In Japan "core" CPI usually means the index excluding fresh food, and "core-core" means excluding fresh food and energy. The index uses 2025 = 100. The Statistics Bureau also publishes an earlier Tokyo index each month.

Official sources: Statistics Bureau: national CPI, August 2026 (PDF)

How fast are food prices rising in Japan?

Food prices rose 3.1% in August 2026 from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Bureau's national consumer price index for August 2026. Fresh food rose 6.0% and food excluding fresh food 2.7%.

Food has a large weight in the index, so it adds more to the headline rate than most other groups. Fresh food prices move with weather and harvests, which is why the main measure of underlying inflation leaves them out. Compare the 3.1% with the headline rate of 1.9%.

Official sources: Statistics Bureau: national CPI, August 2026 (PDF)

Are energy prices rising in Japan?

Energy prices fell 0.7% in August 2026 from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Bureau's national consumer price index for August 2026. Electricity fell 2.4%, city gas 0.8% and petrol 2.6%, while propane rose 6.9% and kerosene 15.5%.

The Statistics Bureau estimates that the abolition of the provisional petrol tax rate and other policy measures took 0.62 percentage points off the year-on-year change in the overall index through energy, of which petrol accounted for 0.38 points. Without those measures, measured inflation would have been higher.

Official sources: Statistics Bureau: national CPI, August 2026 (PDF)

Are Japanese households spending more?

Households of two or more people spent an average of ¥310,975 on consumption in August 2026, down 3.1% in real terms from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Bureau's Family Income and Expenditure Survey, released 9 October 2026. In nominal terms spending fell 1.0%. Compared with July, seasonally adjusted real spending rose 0.1%.

The survey is based on household account books kept by a sample of households, so monthly figures can be volatile. Real figures remove the effect of price changes.

Official sources: Statistics Bureau: Family Income and Expenditure Survey, August 2026 (PDF)

Are medical costs rising in Japan?

Prices for medical care rose 3.0% in August 2026 from a year earlier, according to the Statistics Bureau's national consumer price index for August 2026. Within that group, fees for medical treatment rose 3.2%.

The index measures what patients pay out of their own pocket, not the full cost covered by health insurance. In August the rise in medical treatment fees added to the overall inflation rate, according to the same release. For national spending on health care, see the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's medical care expenditure figures.

Official sources: Statistics Bureau: national CPI, August 2026 (PDF)

What is the inflation rate in Japan?

3.2%: that is consumer price inflation in Japan for 2025, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 3.3%; its low point was 2009, at -1.4%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.2%, and Japan placed 8th highest of 24. Worldwide: 82nd of 165.

How much do households in Japan spend per person?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is $19,751. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at $19,783; its low point was 2009, at $18,278. It is 4th highest of 22 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is $4,470. Of 153 countries with 2024 data, 23rd highest.

What share of people in Japan live in extreme poverty?

1.2%: that is the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Japan for 2020, according to the World Bank. The peak was 1.4% in 2012 and the low 0.4% in 2015. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 0.9%, and Japan placed 3rd highest of 7. Of 69 countries with 2020 data, 26th highest.

What is Japan's Gini coefficient?

In 2020, the Gini index in Japan was 32.3, according to the World Bank. The peak was 34.6 in 2008 and the low 30.7 in 2015. East Asia & Pacific median: 35.0; Japan is 7th highest of 7. Of 69 countries with 2020 data, 44th highest.

What is food insecurity in Japan?

In 2024, moderate or severe food insecurity in Japan was 6.1%, according to the FAO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2015. East Asia & Pacific median: 15.4%; Japan is 13th highest of 17. Of 135 countries with 2024 data, 119th highest.