Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aomori and Tokyo

For one person, living is cheaper in Aomori: $1,190 a month against $1,688 in Tokyo, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aomori, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Aomori
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,190
/mo nomad
Tokyo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,688
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aomori and in Tokyo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aomori and in Tokyo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Aomori versus $1,688 in Tokyo.

  • Aomori $1,190
  • Tokyo $1,688

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,878 in Aomori versus $2,588 in Tokyo.

  • Aomori $1,878
  • Tokyo $2,588

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,567 in Aomori versus $3,489 in Tokyo.

  • Aomori $2,567
  • Tokyo $3,489

Living in Aomori costs roughly 30% less than in Tokyo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aomori is 13% below, Tokyo is 24% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.56 ¥1,037
$7.72 ¥1,220
-15.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.73 ¥4,855
$37.51 ¥5,926
-18.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.83 ¥921
$5.01 ¥791
16.37%
Cappuccino
$2.87 ¥453
$3.68 ¥581
-22.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥166
$1.51 ¥239
-30.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥118
$0.85 ¥134
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 ¥358
$3.77 ¥596
-39.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 ¥541
$5.75 ¥909
-40.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 ¥257
$1.49 ¥236
8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ¥232
$1.73 ¥274
-15.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.05 ¥640
$5.80 ¥916
-30.17%
Eggs
$2.15 ¥340
$2.25 ¥355
-4.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 ¥1,650
$11.50 ¥1,816
-9.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 ¥1,097
$6.96 ¥1,100
-0.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.95 ¥2,521
$16.39 ¥2,590
-2.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 ¥540
$4.73 ¥747
-27.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 ¥405
$2.28 ¥360
12.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 ¥458
$4.26 ¥673
-31.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.91 ¥618
$5.37 ¥848
-27.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 ¥388
$3.29 ¥520
-25.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 ¥344
$3.00 ¥474
-27.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ¥184
$1.15 ¥181
0.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ¥117
$0.80 ¥126
-7.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ¥660
$3.89 ¥615
7.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.24 ¥986
$9.72 ¥1,536
-35.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 ¥298
$1.70 ¥269
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 ¥353
$2.66 ¥420
-15.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 ¥250
$1.25 ¥197
26.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.1 ¥9,174
$62.4 ¥9,864
-7.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 ¥508
$3.15 ¥497
2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.74 ¥433
$3.14 ¥495
-12.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.54 ¥2,929
$18.98 ¥2,998
-2.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ¥161
$1.11 ¥176
-8.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥3.1M
$22.5K ¥3.6M
-13.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.5K ¥2.1M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
-12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 ¥20.0K
$147 ¥23.2K
-13.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.86 ¥4,085
$23.17 ¥3,661
11.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.60 ¥5,624
$30.10 ¥4,755
18.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 ¥7,976
$57.4 ¥9,075
-12.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.48 ¥4,183
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.59 ¥2,305
$13.39 ¥2,116
8.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$650 ¥102.8K
$1,410 ¥222.8K
-53.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K ¥1.8M
$18.6K ¥2.9M
-39.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.28 ¥7,470
$55.3 ¥8,741
-14.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.56 ¥4,354
$32.43 ¥5,123
-15.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 ¥10.8K
$64.4 ¥10.2K
6.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥15.9K
$72.1 ¥11.4K
39.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 ¥77.6K
$1,329 ¥210.0K
-63.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$316 ¥49.9K
$729 ¥115.1K
-56.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 ¥174.5K
$2,622 ¥414.3K
-57.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 ¥111.0K
$1,401 ¥221.4K
-49.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,791 ¥757.0K
$10.7K ¥1.7M
-55.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,450 ¥387.0K
$5,054 ¥798.5K
-51.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aomori
Tokyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,019 ¥476.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
2.25
-1.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aomori: October 27, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aomori
$316
Tokyo
$729 131% $413
Groceries & Markets
Aomori
$285
Tokyo
$327 14.9% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aomori
$188
Tokyo
$200 6.3% $12
Eating Out
Aomori
$130
Tokyo
$161 23.8% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Aomori
$110
Tokyo
$101 8.1% $8.9
Getting Around
Aomori
$81
Tokyo
$86 6.1% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Aomori
$80
Tokyo
$84 5.7% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Aomori and $1,329 in Tokyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $31 in Aomori vs $38 in Tokyo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $327 per month, with Aomori cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Aomori
🇯🇵 Tokyo
🕒 Local time
00:45 12:45 AM
00:45 12:45 AM
Same time as Aomori
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
275,192
13,613,660 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aomori Tokyo 580 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Aomori
  • Tokyo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aomori vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aomori and in Tokyo?
Aomori and Tokyo differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,190 vs $1,688 including rent). Aomori is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Aomori compared to Tokyo?
You’d need roughly $1,784 in Aomori and $2,533 in Tokyo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Aomori and in Tokyo?
Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Aomori versus $1,329 in Tokyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Aomori and Tokyo?
Childcare runs $650 in Aomori versus $1,410 in Tokyo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Tokyo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $2,000 go in Aomori compared to Tokyo?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Aomori gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Aomori and Tokyo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Aomori or Tokyo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aomori and Tokyo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Aomori or Tokyo?
Expats usually find Aomori gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Tokyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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