Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'price-performance ratio' is commonly expressed with the loanword コストパフォーマンス (often abbreviated as コスパ) or the native term 費用対効果. These are used in everyday conversation, business, and product reviews to describe whether something is worth its cost.
Expressing whether something is worth its price in terms of quality or utility, often in casual conversation or product reviews.
Abbreviation of コストパフォーマンス. Extremely common in casual speech, online reviews, and everyday conversation. Often used in phrases like コスパがいい (good value) or コスパが悪い (poor value).
This restaurant is good value for money.
コスパ重視で選びました。
I chose it with an emphasis on value for money.
The full loanword. Slightly more formal than コスパ, but still widely used in business and product descriptions.
この製品はコストパフォーマンスに優れています。
This product offers excellent price-performance ratio.
Native Japanese term, literally 'cost versus effectiveness'. More formal and often used in business or technical contexts. Can also refer to cost-effectiveness in a broader sense.
費用対効果を考えて、このプランを選びました。
Considering the cost-effectiveness, I chose this plan.
Common phrase meaning 'good value for money'. Used in casual and semi-formal contexts.
このスマホはコスパがいいと評判だ。
This smartphone is reputed to be good value for money.
Means 'poor value for money' or 'not worth the price'.
あの店はコスパが悪いから、もう行かない。
That shop is not worth the money, so I won't go again.
Discussing cost-effectiveness in reports, meetings, or formal evaluations.
The standard term in business and government for cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis. Often used in phrases like 費用対効果分析 (cost-effectiveness analysis).
このプロジェクトの費用対効果を評価する必要があります。
We need to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this project.
Specifically referring to the analytical comparison of costs and benefits, often in economics or project planning.
The formal term for cost-effectiveness analysis or cost-benefit analysis. Used in academic, governmental, and business contexts.
費用対効果分析の結果、この治療法が最も効率的だと分かった。
As a result of the cost-effectiveness analysis, this treatment was found to be the most efficient.
コスパ is casual and widely used in everyday conversation and online reviews. 費用対効果 is formal and preferred in business reports, academic papers, and official documents. Both can be translated as 'price-performance ratio' or 'cost-effectiveness', but 費用対効果 carries a more analytical nuance.
このゲームはコスパが最高だ。
This game is great value for money.
費用対効果を考慮して予算を配分します。
We will allocate the budget considering cost-effectiveness.
Do not attempt to translate 'price-performance ratio' literally as 価格性能比 or similar. While such terms exist in technical contexts, they are not natural in everyday Japanese. Stick to コスパ or 費用対効果.
このノートパソコンはコスパがとてもいい。
This laptop has a great price-performance ratio.
業務の費用対効果を改善する必要があります。
We need to improve the cost-effectiveness of our operations.
Acceptable in business settings, though slightly less formal than 費用対効果. Often used in marketing or product comparisons.
当社の新製品は競合他社よりも高いコストパフォーマンスを実現しています。
Our new product achieves a higher price-performance ratio than competitors.