Australia vs Japan — Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Updated March 2026
Australia has a cost of living index of 94.0 with average 1BR rent around $1,700/mo, while Japan sits at 66.0 with rent near $920/mo. Below is the full side-by-side breakdown for digital nomads, expats and remote workers weighing a move.
| Metric | Australia | Japan | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage Interest Rate | 6.20% | 1.40% | Japan |
| Savings Account Interest Rate | 4.60% | 0.30% | Australia |
| Credit Card Interest Rate (APR) | 19.9% | 14.5% | Japan |
| Average Rent (1BR City Centre) | US$1,700/mo | US$920/mo | Japan |
| Real Estate Price (per m²) | US$7,800/m² | US$9,100/m² | Australia |
Summary
Australia has a higher mortgage rate than Japan at 6.20% vs 1.40%. Rental costs in Australia average $1,700/month compared to $920 in Japan, while the cost of living index sits at 94.0 versus 66.0. Overall, Japan looks more favourable across the headline numbers.
Which is better for you?
Take the 30-second quiz to find your best match.
Start quiz →Also compare
How we calculate this
Cost of living, rent, mortgage, savings and tax figures combine official sources (World Bank, central banks, national statistics offices) with crowdsourced price data, refreshed regularly. Full breakdown: read our methodology.
Want to compare more countries?
Build your own side-by-side with any two countries in our database.
Open the compare tool →