On 7/30/05 5:55, in article 42eb4df3$0$8649$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au,
"AABNE" <noemail@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Japan is often though of as a place with a high cost of living, but the
> cost of a Big Mac in Japan is actually cheaper than that of Australia.
> 
> The cost of this burger is often regarded as an indicator of the cost of
> living in a country. Prices in Yen are:
> 
> Japan - ¥262.5
> Australia - ¥293.6
> 
> One would expect Australia to be cheaper (especially for this product
> which has beef) so I am suprised to see Japan having cheaper Big Macs.
> 
> I am starting to think that this idea of Japan being an expensive
> country is a ridiculous myth, perpetrated by tourists who went to Japan
> for one week and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton.

McDonald's has never struck me as very expensive in Japan, though I always
found the portions smaller. Some find the Big Mac comparison interesting but
it doesn't have anything to do with accurately comparing the cost of living
between nations.