World's Most Expensive Japanese White Rice: How Much Does It Cost?

Japan is known for its superior quality white rice. Unsurprisingly, the Land of the Rising Sun has the world's most expensive white rice, with an average price of US$4.56/kg or approximately Rp 65,159/kg (exchange rate Rp 14,289/US$) in October 2021.

Following Japan, the second most expensive white rice in the world is found in the United States, at US$3.98/kg or Rp 56,871/kg. South Korea ranks third with the world's third most expensive white rice, reaching US$3.79/kg or Rp 54,156/kg. Following South Korea, Taiwan ranks fourth with white rice priced at US$3.27/kg or Rp 46,726/kg, and Norway ranks fifth at US$3.16/kg or Rp 45,154/kg.

Meanwhile, the average price of the cheapest white rice in the world is in Sri Lanka, at only US$0.62/kg or Rp 8,859/kg. Then, the price of white rice in Nepal and Bangladesh is also among the cheapest in the world, at US$0.69/kg or Rp 9,860/kg and US$0.70/kg or Rp 10,000/kg respectively.

Indonesia is among the countries with the cheapest average price of white rice, ranking eleventh in the world, at only US$0.89/kg or Rp 12,717/kg. Indonesia is below Peru, where the price of white rice is US$0.88/kg or Rp 12,575/kg.

According to data from World Agricultural Production, global rice production is projected at 503.17 million metric tons in the 2020/2021 period. China was the largest rice producer during this period, reaching 148.3 million metric tons, followed by India with 120 million metric tons.