Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukushima and Tokyo

For one person, living is cheaper in Fukushima: $1,165 a month against $1,648 in Tokyo, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fukushima
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,165
/mo nomad
Tokyo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,648
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fukushima 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 Fukushima and in Tokyo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,165 in Fukushima versus $1,648 in Tokyo.

  • Fukushima $1,165
  • Tokyo $1,648

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Fukushima versus $2,604 in Tokyo.

  • Fukushima $1,826
  • Tokyo $2,604

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,487 in Fukushima versus $3,561 in Tokyo.

  • Fukushima $2,487
  • Tokyo $3,561

Living in Fukushima costs roughly 29% less than in Tokyo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fukushima is 14% below, Tokyo is 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.89 ¥930
$7.79 ¥1,230
-24.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.92 ¥4,727
$38.57 ¥6,094
-22.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.45 ¥703
$4.99 ¥788
-10.82%
Cappuccino
$2.55 ¥404
$3.58 ¥565
-28.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥148
$1.57 ¥249
-40.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ¥106
$0.90 ¥142
-25.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ¥412
$3.75 ¥593
-30.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ¥493
$5.22 ¥825
-40.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ¥232
$1.55 ¥246
-5.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 ¥244
$1.75 ¥277
-11.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 ¥645
$5.56 ¥879
-26.62%
Eggs
$2.08 ¥328
$2.25 ¥355
-7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.38 ¥1,639
$11.31 ¥1,787
-8.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 ¥1,057
$6.76 ¥1,068
-1.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.64 ¥2,629
$16.83 ¥2,658
-1.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 ¥596
$4.66 ¥736
-19.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 ¥357
$2.27 ¥359
-0.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ¥443
$4.33 ¥683
-35.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.07 ¥642
$5.23 ¥826
-22.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 ¥391
$3.33 ¥526
-25.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 ¥406
$3.00 ¥474
-14.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ¥205
$1.16 ¥183
11.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥132
$0.83 ¥130
1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89 ¥615
$3.88 ¥613
0.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.82 ¥1,077
$9.53 ¥1,506
-28.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ¥291
$1.63 ¥257
12.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥337
$2.62 ¥414
-18.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ¥235
$1.22 ¥193
22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.19 ¥7,613
$62.3 ¥9,848
-22.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 ¥502
$3.19 ¥505
-0.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.69 ¥425
$3.09 ¥489
-12.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.15 ¥3,342
$18.70 ¥2,954
13.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ¥161
$1.11 ¥175
-8.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K ¥3.2M
$22.0K ¥3.5M
-8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥2.5M
$15.1K ¥2.4M
3.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 ¥19.9K
$148 ¥23.4K
-14.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.15 ¥3,342
$22.75 ¥3,594
-7.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.04 ¥4,746
$29.86 ¥4,717
0.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 ¥8,154
$65.5 ¥10.4K
-21.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.19 ¥4,137
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.70 ¥1,849
$13.22 ¥2,089
-11.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 ¥71.6K
$1,314 ¥207.6K
-65.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K ¥1.8M
$17.9K ¥2.8M
-36.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93 ¥7,414
$54.3 ¥8,584
-13.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.00 ¥5,688
$32.73 ¥5,172
9.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 ¥10.2K
$65.4 ¥10.3K
-1.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5 ¥13.3K
$70.6 ¥11.2K
19.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 ¥84.5K
$1,288 ¥203.4K
-58.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 ¥52.5K
$684 ¥108.1K
-51.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 ¥160.9K
$2,507 ¥396.1K
-59.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 ¥111.4K
$1,460 ¥230.6K
-51.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,897 ¥615.6K
$9,204 ¥1.5M
-57.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,857 ¥293.4K
$4,226 ¥667.6K
-56.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukushima
Tokyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,994 ¥473.0K
-
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 Fukushima: October 17, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fukushima
$333
Tokyo
$684 106% $352
Groceries & Markets
Fukushima
$288
Tokyo
$326 13.1% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukushima
$177
Tokyo
$201 13.2% $23
Eating Out
Fukushima
$117
Tokyo
$159 36.4% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Fukushima
$104
Tokyo
$100 3.8% $4
Sport & Entertainment
Fukushima
$75
Tokyo
$92 22.6% $17
Getting Around
Fukushima
$71
Tokyo
$86 21.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Fukushima and $1,288 in Tokyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Fukushima vs $39.00 in Tokyo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $326 per month, with Fukushima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Fukushima
🇯🇵 Tokyo
🕒 Local time
08:55 8:55 AM
08:55 8:55 AM
Same time as Fukushima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
282,693
13,613,660 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Fukushima vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokyo cheaper than Fukushima?
Fukushima is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,748 in Fukushima and $2,473 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.
What is the rent difference between Fukushima and Tokyo?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Fukushima versus $1,288 in Tokyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fukushima and in Tokyo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Tokyo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Fukushima or in Tokyo?
Dining out is cheaper in Fukushima – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $39.00 in Tokyo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fukushima or in Tokyo?
At $1,165 in Fukushima versus $1,648 in Tokyo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fukushima but tight or insufficient in Tokyo. The gap between the two cities makes Fukushima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fukushima or Tokyo more family-friendly?
For families, Fukushima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tokyo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fukushima or Tokyo?
Safety-wise, Fukushima 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fukushima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Tokyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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