Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,291 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,684 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,693 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,818 per month in Fukuoka vs $3,703 in Tokyo, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 23% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fukuoka sits 4% below the global median, while Tokyo is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.28 ¥1,324

$8.09 ¥1,294

2.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.70 ¥6,670

$48.31 ¥7,727

-13.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 ¥984

$5.69 ¥910

8.08%

Cappuccino

$3.14 ¥503

$3.57 ¥571

-12.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ¥165

$1.26 ¥202

-18.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥132

$0.93 ¥148

-11.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 ¥263

$4.25 ¥681

-61.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ¥335

$5.30 ¥848

-60.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥265

$1.58 ¥252

5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.59 ¥254

0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 ¥649

$5.32 ¥851

-23.68%

Eggs

$2.62 ¥419

$2.41 ¥385

8.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.12 ¥3,378

$16.04 ¥2,565

31.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 ¥997

$7.85 ¥1,255

-20.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.96 ¥3,353

$23.16 ¥3,704

-9.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 ¥501

$5.23 ¥836

-40.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 ¥217

$2.57 ¥412

-47.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 ¥227

$5.73 ¥917

-75.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 ¥953

$5.97 ¥955

-0.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ¥431

$3.21 ¥514

-16.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 ¥497

$3.51 ¥562

-11.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ¥145

$1.48 ¥236

-39.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.90 ¥143

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 ¥604

$4.27 ¥684

-11.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥972

$9.39 ¥1,501

-35.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥305

$2.15 ¥343

-11.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥337

$2.88 ¥461

-26.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 ¥281

$1.48 ¥237

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.39 ¥6,780

$84.9 ¥13.6K

-50.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 ¥758

$3.49 ¥559

35.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.57 ¥732

$2.87 ¥458

59.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.52 ¥3,122

$26.77 ¥4,281

-27.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.22 ¥195

-1.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

0.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K ¥3.2M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

14.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$216 ¥34.6K

$164 ¥26.2K

32.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.65 ¥4,423

$26.63 ¥4,259

3.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.41 ¥5,664

$33.94 ¥5,428

4.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,450

$69.0 ¥11.0K

-14.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.48 ¥557

$20.11 ¥3,217

-82.70%

Cinema Ticket

$13.62 ¥2,179

$13.06 ¥2,088

4.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$416 ¥66.6K

$506 ¥81.0K

-17.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$15.7K ¥2.5M

-15.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.93 ¥6,866

$60.1 ¥9,611

-28.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.81 ¥4,767

$40.31 ¥6,448

-26.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 ¥10.6K

$64.7 ¥10.3K

2.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 ¥9,872

$91.2 ¥14.6K

-32.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 ¥87.5K

$1,094 ¥175.0K

-50.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ¥48.1K

$596 ¥95.4K

-49.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 ¥165.6K

$2,609 ¥417.4K

-60.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥111.2K

$1,339 ¥214.2K

-48.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,425 ¥1.0M

$10.8K ¥1.7M

-40.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,669 ¥426.9K

$4,974 ¥795.6K

-46.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,531 ¥244.9K

$2,501 ¥400.1K

-38.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

1.72

-2.91%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Fukuoka versus $1,094 in Tokyo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Tokyo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Fukuoka versus $48.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $382 – making Fukuoka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fukuoka vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,291 in Fukuoka, $1,684 in Tokyo – roughly 30% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,937 per month in Fukuoka and $2,526 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $416 per month in Fukuoka and $506 in Tokyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Tokyo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Tokyo at $1,684. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,684 in Tokyo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tokyo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.