[nandemo]

The problem is that that comparison is misleading: while a Seattle 1BDR is 61% more expensive than a Tokyo one, it's also much bigger.

Note that the Buy comparison is by square meter, which is much more reasonable. Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre is -60% in Seattle i.e. Seattle_price = .4*Tokyo_price.

It's not like there's such a huge disparity in rent prices vs. buy prices in either city. The main reason that Rent for Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre comes out 61% more expensive in Seattle is that their average 1BDR is more than double the size of a Tokyo 1BDR.