Where is the cost of living highest? Brazil or Japan?

Whenever people used to talk about the loud cost of living, Japan is the target. The Brazilian media portrays the prices of Japanese products as something absurd, completely ignoring the country's economy. The fact is that whenever people talk about Japan, it is seen as an expensive country.

Indeed, Japan has a high cost of living for many foreigners who intend to live there. But does this mean that the cost of living in Japan is high? The purpose of the article is to make people reflect well before using Japan as an example of an expensive country, and to help understand a little bit about the cost of living in the 2 countries.

Do not view this article as a comparison between Brazil and Japan. Both have their ups and downs. I hope this article clears up all your doubts about the cost of living in Brazil and Japan.

Japan salary x Brazil salary

Before starting to understand the cost of living, we must know the minimum wage in each country.

Brazil. The Brazilian minimum wage is in the range of 800 real. Fortunately, many usually earn more than a thousand, as well as many can't even earn a minimum wage. So during this article we are going to take an average income of 1,000 reais to study the cost of living.

Japan. No japan the salary it is usually between 200.000 yen (6,000 reais) to 350.000 yen (11,000 reais). Just like in Brazil people can earn less or more than that. So during the article we are going to take an average income of 250.000 yen (8,000 reais) to study the cost of living. (quote 03/31/2016).

If you have any doubts about the Japanese timetable, read this article by clicking here.

Rent in Japan vs Rent in Brazil

Brazil. More than 30 million Brazilians live on rent, another large part spend their entire lives spending their salary paying the mortgage on their own home. Unfortunately, renting in Brazil is absurd, it is easy to find thousands of houses to rent for prices above the minimum wage.

The cheapest rent usually consumes 30% of the salary, and the conditions of cheap houses are bad, small and even unsafe. Living in apartments is something for the rich, only the condominium can be more expensive than renting cheap houses.

Japan. The majority of the Japanese population lives on rent. Depending on the location, you can find wonderful houses or apartments for 50,000 yen (1500 reais). The advantages of apartments and houses in Japan are great, most have ofuro (bathtub), air conditioning, hi-tech bathroom, security, heated water and much more. All this can consume less than 20% of salary.

Where is the cost of living higher? Brazil or Japan?

Food in Japan vs Brazil

Brazil. With the economic crisis, the consumption of meat, industrialized products and even the rich production of food in Brazil, is as expensive as that of Japan. In fact, even before the crisis, it was never cheap to buy industrialized or branded products.

Buying boxes of chocolate, soft drinks, visiting restaurants and snacks can consume a lot of salary. Many families cannot visit these places because of the high price, and live on the cheapest. This is because the country has one of the highest tax burdens, the products are expensive and of low quality.

Japan. Although most natural foods such as meats, vegetables, fruits are imported to Japan, it has a large production and a very affordable price. If people think that meat, vegetables and fruit in Japan are expensive, they should remember that their salary can be up to 10 times higher than ours.

In addition, industrialized items and branded items such as chocolates, drinks and sweets can be cheaper than in Brazil, without taking the high salary that the Japanese earn. Visiting restaurants and eateries like McDonald's is much more affordable for a Japanese than for a Brazilian. That is, the Japanese eat better and spend less despite the high cost of products.

To understand better, I already wrote a subject talking about the cost of living in Japan and how to calculate the prices of things.

Breakfast

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Products and Leisure - Japan x Brazil

Brazil. Everyone knows that the prices of technological products, TVs, cell phones, video games, etc. are absurd. It takes many months to work to buy the dear 42º TV or a PS4. Some work for years to travel to another country, so much so that most Brazilians think that traveling abroad is something for the rich. Not to mention that traveling within the country, people may have more expenses than traveling abroad. Many places of leisure are absurdly expensive, inaccessible to ordinary families. Even taking car trips is difficult with gas prices.

Japan. With just a salary and a little effort you are able to buy all those electronic things that would take you months or years in Brazil. Prices can be lower, and as the salary is much higher, all of this is affordable. With 1 month of salary sacrificed, he is already able to buy a plane ticket to another country.

Bicicletas

Where is the cost of living best?

Japan is not an economic marvel, nor does it have a low cost of living. Many people in Japan live on the limit of their salary, as do many in Brazil. When analyzing the economy of these 2 countries, it is very clear that neither country has a higher cost of living than the other, but what each country does makes life experience better.

The experience of life in Japan can be far superior for most people, as a large number prefer the freedom that Brazil has. So, the economy is not a key factor in choosing a particular country, but what suits you best. Family or security? Freedom or Comfort? Japan is well above Brazil economically, so the cost of living in Japan for the Japanese is lower than the cost of living in Brazil for Brazilians.

But Brazil, a country that produces its own food, and has the capacity to be the greatest power in the world, why does it have a horrible economy and a high cost of living? A country where earning 260 reais is considered middle class (said Dilma), is not in a position to have a decent economy. We are not going to get into a political debate, but all this is a result not only of the government, but of the attitude and culture of the population.

Japan just doesn't have a bad economy, because people dedicate themselves to studying, working and respecting others, where the population thinks more about society instead of themselves. This is one of the main reasons that a country has a good cost and lifestyle. The results are very visible when people take the opposite side.

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