The following material is a brief guide/overview of the products that are available here in Sendai. Please remember that it is a very brief compilation and there are many more items available which are not listed here. The prices quoted are just from one supermarket and may vary from place to place. This list is intended to give you a rough idea of the cost of living here. You are about to move to the most expensive country in the world and I want you to be aware of it and prepared for it!!
Conversions: US$1 = ¥120, UK£1 = ¥191, CAN$1 = ¥82, NZ$1 = ¥66 (June 16)
| PRODUCTS: |
JP
¥
|
US
$
|
UK
£
|
CN
$
|
NZ
$
|
| FOOD STUFFS: | |||||
| Bread (6 or 8 slices) |
¥180
|
$1.50
|
£0.94
|
$2.18
|
$2.79
|
| Milk (1 litre) |
¥178
|
$1.48
|
£0.93
|
$2.16
|
$2.76
|
| Rice (5kg bag) |
¥2,850
|
$23.70
|
£14.95
|
$34.57
|
$44.22
|
| Fruit juice (1litre) |
¥170
|
$1.41
|
£0.89
|
$2.06
|
$2.64
|
| Apple(s) - 5 big ones |
¥650
|
$5.41
|
£3.41
|
$7.88
|
$10.09
|
| Bananas (bunch-5) |
¥198
|
$1.65
|
£1.04
|
$2.40
|
$3.07
|
| Lettuce |
¥150
|
$1.25
|
£0.79
|
$1.82
|
$2.33
|
| Chicken breast (500g) |
¥600
|
$4.99
|
£3.15
|
$7.28
|
$9.31
|
| Beef (steak) 200g |
¥800
|
$6.65
|
£4.20
|
$9.70
|
$12.41
|
| Eggs (10) |
¥200
|
$1.66
|
£1.05
|
$2.43
|
$3.10
|
| Tofu (1 block) |
¥100
|
$0.83
|
£0.52
|
$1.21
|
$1.55
|
| Veggies (assorted) |
varies
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Fish (assorted) |
varies
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Butter/margarine |
¥250
|
$2.08
|
£1.31
|
$3.03
|
$3.88
|
| Coca~Cola (1 can) |
¥120
|
$1.00
|
£0.63
|
$1.46
|
$1.86
|
| Beer (350ml can) |
¥250
|
$2.08
|
£1.32
|
$3.03
|
$3.80
|
| Coffee (Instant 150g) |
¥1,100
|
$9.15
|
£5.77
|
$13.34
|
$17.07
|
| Doughnut (1 ring) |
¥120
|
$1.00
|
£0.63
|
$1.46
|
$1.80
|
| TOILETRIES: | |||||
| Toothpaste |
¥250
|
$2.08
|
£1.31
|
$3.03
|
$3.88
|
| Dental Floss (18m) |
¥340
|
$2.83
|
£1.78
|
$4.12
|
$5.28
|
| Soap (3 bars) |
¥270
|
$2.25
|
£1.42
|
$3.27
|
$4.19
|
| Shaving Cream |
¥650
|
$5.41
|
£3.41
|
$7.88
|
$10.09
|
| Hair mousse (800g) |
¥800
|
$6.65
|
£4.20
|
$9.70
|
$12.41
|
| Hair spray |
¥600
|
$4.99
|
£3.15
|
$7.28
|
$9.31
|
| Tampons (40) |
¥950
|
$7.90
|
£4.98
|
$11.52
|
$14.74
|
| Bufferin (48 tabs) |
¥920
|
$7.65
|
£4.83
|
$11.16
|
$14.28
|
| Toilet rolls (12) |
¥300
|
$2.50
|
£1.57
|
$3.64
|
$4.66
|
| Deodorant (Male) |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| (Female) |
¥600
|
$4.99
|
£3.15
|
$7.28
|
$9.31
|
| Shampoo (500ml) |
¥800
|
$6.65
|
£4.20
|
$9.70
|
$12.41
|
| MISCELLANEOUS: | |||||
| McDonalds (Dbl. CBurger Set) |
¥550
|
$4.57
|
£2.89
|
$6.67
|
$8.53
|
| Movie Ticket (1) |
¥1,800
|
$14.97
|
£9.44
|
$21.83
|
$27.93
|
| Avg. Meal out (2 beer) |
¥3,000
|
$24.95
|
£15.74
|
$36.39
|
$46.55
|
| Coffee & Doughnut |
¥350
|
$2.91
|
£1.84
|
$4.25
|
$5.43
|
| CD (Tower or HMV) |
¥2,400
|
$19.96
|
£12.59
|
$29.11
|
$37.24
|
| Shinkansen to Tokyo |
¥10,500
|
$87.33
|
£55.09
|
$127.36
|
$162.93
|
| Sendai Subway Ticket | |||||
| Minumum |
¥200
|
$1.66
|
£1.05
|
$2.43
|
$3.10
|
| Maximum |
380
|
$3.16
|
£1.99
|
$4.61
|
$5.90
|
| Business Hotel Room |
¥15,000
|
$124.76
|
£78.70
|
$181.94
|
$232.76
|
| School Drink. Party |
¥5,000
|
$41.59
|
£26.23
|
$60.65
|
$77.59
|
| Ski Ticket (all-day) |
¥4,000
|
$29.11
|
£18.36
|
$42.45
|
$54.31
|
That’s it for now. I hope this has helped you to see the relativity of your salary. Yes, in terms of of home currencies, we are making good money BUT we live and spend here in JAPAN. If you are careful and shop around you can stretch your yen a bit further, the veteran ALTs can show you how. Take it easy, and remember to bring your ¥200,000 when you come in July. These prices are not meant to be the exact quotes but an average accounting of the cost of living here in Japan.