🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,110 in Hamamatsu versus $1,422 in Yokohama.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,843 in Hamamatsu versus $2,170 in Yokohama.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,577 in Hamamatsu versus $2,918 in Yokohama.
🙂Living in Hamamatsu costs roughly 22% less than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamamatsu is 17% below, Yokohama is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.82¥770
$6.88¥1,098
-29.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.39¥6,763
$41.10¥6,556
3.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.55¥567
$5.42¥865
-34.50%
Cappuccino
$3.08¥492
$3.14¥501
-1.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66¥106
$1.15¥184
-42.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82¥131
$0.75¥120
9.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09¥334
$2.09¥334
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72¥433
$3.05¥486
-10.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53¥244
$1.56¥249
-1.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69¥269
$1.69¥270
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.84¥772
$4.95¥790
-2.22%
Eggs
$1.84¥294
$2.29¥365
-19.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.99¥1,594
$9.97¥1,591
0.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39¥1,019
$6.35¥1,012
0.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.47¥2,468
$15.45¥2,464
0.13%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14¥661
$6.18¥986
-33.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14¥341
$3.14¥501
-31.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.56¥567
$3.99¥636
-10.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13¥659
$6.05¥965
-31.74%
Potato(1kg)
$3.28¥523
$3.35¥534
-2.09%
Onion(1kg)
$4.34¥692
$4.29¥684
1.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥221
$1.34¥213
3.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥138
$0.89¥142
-3.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49¥557
$4.15¥661
-15.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.66¥1,542
$6.31¥1,006
53.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77¥282
$1.83¥292
-3.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥327
$2.05¥328
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07¥171
$1.56¥248
-31.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.8¥8,901
$55.8¥8,908
-0.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45¥551
$3.56¥568
-3.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02¥482
$2.64¥422
14.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.35¥3,566
$22.08¥3,523
1.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21¥192
$1.23¥197
-1.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K¥3.3M
$23.2K¥3.7M
-9.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.9K¥2.2M
$18.5K¥3.0M
-24.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109¥17.3K
$145¥23.1K
-25.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90¥1,579
$27.62¥4,407
-64.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.21¥3,384
$34.00¥5,425
-37.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103¥16.5K
$55.1¥8,784
87.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.58¥2,964
$13.91¥2,219
33.57%
Cinema Ticket
$13.60¥2,170
$13.52¥2,157
0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285¥45.4K
$285¥45.5K
-0.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K¥2.2M
$13.6K¥2.2M
3.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.48¥6,617
$41.28¥6,585
0.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.83¥4,439
$29.93¥4,775
-7.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.5¥8,687
$60.6¥9,664
-10.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104¥16.6K
$113¥18.0K
-7.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378¥60.3K
$829¥132.3K
-54.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244¥38.9K
$484¥77.2K
-49.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$881¥140.6K
$1,277¥203.8K
-31.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584¥93.2K
$866¥138.1K
-32.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,566¥1.2M
$6,106¥974.1K
23.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,338¥851.6K
$4,173¥665.8K
27.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,413¥225.4K
$2,623¥418.5K
-46.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0.95
2.05
-53.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamamatsu: April 26, 2026
Last update for Yokohama: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $378 in Hamamatsu and $829 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Hamamatsu vs $41.00 in Yokohama. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $326, with Hamamatsu cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hamamatsu vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamamatsu and Yokohama?
Hamamatsu and Yokohama differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,110 vs $1,422 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Yokohama earns 86% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamamatsu and Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $378 in Hamamatsu versus $829 in Yokohama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $41.00 in Yokohama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,110 in Hamamatsu versus $1,422 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamamatsu and Yokohama?
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 Hamamatsu or Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamamatsu and Yokohama 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: Hamamatsu or Yokohama?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.