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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,701 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,050 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,691 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Fukuoka vs $3,682 in Tokyo, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 25% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fukuoka sits 4% below the global median, while Tokyo is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 ¥1,324

$8.09 ¥1,314

0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.01 ¥6,826

$48.77 ¥7,923

-13.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 ¥1,013

$5.48 ¥891

13.87%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ¥503

$3.60 ¥584

-14.17%

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

$1.04 ¥169

$1.27 ¥206

-18.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥134

$0.86 ¥140

-3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 ¥265

$4.08 ¥662

-60.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥333

$5.44 ¥883

-62.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥284

$1.62 ¥264

8.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ¥257

$1.51 ¥245

4.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ¥691

$5.34 ¥868

-20.41%

Eggs

$2.61 ¥424

$2.32 ¥377

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.67 ¥3,358

$15.96 ¥2,593

29.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ¥1,017

$8.12 ¥1,319

-22.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.68 ¥3,361

$22.55 ¥3,664

-8.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 ¥514

$5.52 ¥897

-42.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥228

$2.59 ¥421

-45.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 ¥220

$5.92 ¥962

-77.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.92 ¥961

$6.07 ¥987

-2.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ¥463

$3.24 ¥527

-12.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ¥521

$3.39 ¥551

-5.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ¥156

$1.45 ¥235

-33.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥131

$0.87 ¥142

-6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 ¥620

$4.25 ¥691

-10.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 ¥1,012

$9.31 ¥1,513

-33.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 ¥315

$2.05 ¥334

-5.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥348

$2.87 ¥466

-25.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 ¥287

$1.48 ¥241

19.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.36 ¥6,882

$84.6 ¥13.7K

-49.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.75 ¥772

$3.38 ¥548

40.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.44 ¥721

$2.91 ¥473

52.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.68 ¥3,198

$26.24 ¥4,264

-25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥200

$1.20 ¥195

2.50%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

0.14%

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

$19.8K ¥3.2M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

14.86%

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

$221 ¥35.8K

$168 ¥27.2K

31.52%

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

$27.43 ¥4,456

$25.82 ¥4,195

6.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.23 ¥5,724

$33.50 ¥5,444

5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.9 ¥9,726

$70.9 ¥11.5K

-15.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.54 ¥575

$20.25 ¥3,289

-82.52%

Cinema Ticket

$13.83 ¥2,247

$13.07 ¥2,124

5.81%

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

$411 ¥66.7K

$495 ¥80.3K

-16.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.2M

$15.7K ¥2.6M

-15.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.09 ¥7,164

$61.5 ¥10,000

-28.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.00 ¥4,874

$41.66 ¥6,769

-27.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 ¥10.8K

$65.9 ¥10.7K

1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.2 ¥9,775

$91.1 ¥14.8K

-33.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ¥87.2K

$1,120 ¥182.0K

-52.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 ¥47.9K

$606 ¥98.5K

-51.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 ¥169.4K

$2,680 ¥435.5K

-61.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 ¥112.5K

$1,342 ¥218.0K

-48.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,287 ¥1.0M

$10.4K ¥1.7M

-39.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,625 ¥426.4K

$4,986 ¥810.1K

-47.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,518 ¥246.6K

$2,330 ¥378.5K

-34.86%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Fukuoka versus $1,120 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 54% 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 $49.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $383 – 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: $1,278 in Fukuoka, $1,701 in Tokyo – roughly 33% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Fukuoka and $2,552 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 $411 per month in Fukuoka and $495 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 $1,278, than in Tokyo at $1,701. 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 $1,278 in Fukuoka to $1,701 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.