Japan is considered to be one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to live. One prominent survey recently ranked the cost of living for expatriates in Tokyo as the fourth highest in the world, behind London and Moscow and virtually tied with Seoul. The basket of goods and services used in the survey was priced more than 22 percent higher than the same basket of goods and services in New York, the most expensive city in North America.

Food, particularly imported food conforming to Western tastes, is very expensive in Japan. Another cost of living survey found Tokyo's food prices for expatriates to be the highest in the world, some 30 percent higher than New York and 45 percent higher than London. Staples of the Japanese diet, such as rice, seafood and soybean products are much less expensive, however, than Western food staples. Budget-minded consumers can also find a variety of household goods at numerous "100 Yen" stores that sell items for 105 yen (about 1 USD) each (including tax).