If we exclude taxes. We can draw the following conclusion based on the current mininum wage of Japan, UK and USA.

Japan 14,800 yen (17hrs-22hrs)
Ranges from 677 Japanese yen to 888 yen per hour; set on a prefectural and industry basis.[109]

UK 130.00 (17-20hrs)
The UK "living wage" - an hourly rate based on the amount needed to cover the basic costs of living - has been raised by 20p to £7.85. The voluntary wage - set by the Living Wage Foundation - is now 21% higher than the compulsory National Minimum Wage, which is currently £6.50 an hour.Nov 3, 2014

USA 130.00 (18hrs)
The Fair Labor Standards Act requires a minimum wage of $2.13 for tipped workers with the expectation that wages plus tips total no less than $7.25 per hour. The employer must pay the difference if total income does not add up to $7.25 per hour.

Shocking isn't it? UK with mininum wage actually pay about the same as Japan with similar mininum wage, not only that but on the low end of mininum wage Japan actually pays more for the product meanwhile it takes USA an additional hour to be able to purchase the product.

So for all the complaining about the cost being "expensive" the truth is in the mininum wage and while taxes weren't taking into account over this that's a variable which honestly isn't SE's issue they most likely focus on the aspect of mininum wage and income of people in said area.