As of November 12, 2026, Japan is cheaper than South Korea for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $131 in Japan against $140 in South Korea, a gap of 7.0%. Over the past year Japan has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+4.9% after inflation, against −8.5%). Both sit at US advisory Level 1.
| Measure | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $131 | $140 |
| Lean day | $61 | $65 |
| Comfortable day | $299 | $312 |
| Real change, 12 months | +4.9% | −8.5% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +3.6% | −9.2% |
| Versus 5-year average | +20.6% | +4.8% |
| US advisory | Level 1 · Normal precautions | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 5.0 · Effortless | 4.9 · Effortless |
| Index score | 70 | 58 |
| Best months | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | Apr, May, Sep, Oct |
| Shoulder months | Jan, Feb, Jun, Dec | Mar, Jun, Nov |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
The rich country that got cheap. The yen remains far below where it sat a decade ago.
The catchKyoto and Tokyo are crowded and hotel rates there have risen with demand. Value is in second cities and the countryside.
A hyper-modern country that is cheaper than its reputation.
The catchSeoul lodging is no longer a bargain and the won can move quickly on political news.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.