😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,282 in Herceg Novi versus $983 in Saitama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Herceg Novi versus $1,315 in Saitama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Herceg Novi versus $1,646 in Saitama.
🌍Living in Herceg Novi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Saitama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Herceg Novi7% lower, Saitama28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40€9.80
$5.61¥872
103.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.04€32.71
$30.87¥4,804
23.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14€7.86
$4.75¥739
92.42%
Cappuccino
$2.61€2.24
$2.98¥464
-12.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.20
$0.71¥111
260.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.41
$0.59¥92.2
177.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92€2.51
$2.48¥386
17.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.03
$3.08¥480
14.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.41¥220
-14.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00€0.86
$1.72¥268
-41.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94€2.53
$2.77¥432
6.14%
Eggs
$3.10€2.66
$1.97¥307
57.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.19€7.90
$11.85¥1,844
-22.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43€6.39
$5.34¥831
39.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.00€11.18
$14.55¥2,265
-10.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34€1.15
$5.55¥864
-75.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57€1.35
$2.20¥343
-28.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$2.77¥431
-39.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99€2.57
$4.06¥633
-26.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91€0.78
$2.51¥391
-63.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$1.54¥239
-11.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$1.26¥196
19.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.85
$0.72¥112
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00€3.44
$3.69¥574
8.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.53€3.90
$6.35¥989
-28.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.14
$1.72¥268
-23.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$1.99¥310
-7.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$3.35¥521
-46.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.38€40.73
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10€2.66
$3.11¥485
-0.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18€1.02
$2.46¥382
-52.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.63€15.15
$20.32¥3,163
-13.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.05¥164
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K€29.0K
$21.6K¥3.4M
56.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K€18.8K
$14.5K¥2.3M
50.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€118
$131¥20.4K
4.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.28€11.42
$17.94¥2,792
-25.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.68€30.67
$31.96¥4,974
11.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€49.67
$61.9¥9,629
-6.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.71€10.07
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.31€7.14
$10.82¥1,683
-23.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$466€400
$633¥98.6K
-26.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,235€6,220
$14.4K¥2.2M
-49.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9€73.9
$34.98¥5,444
145.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37€30.41
$24.53¥3,818
44.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6€64.2
$55.4¥8,622
34.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7€84.0
$61.4¥9,560
59.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682€587
$409¥63.7K
66.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415€357
$226¥35.1K
83.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303€1,120
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$927€797
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,887€3,342
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,457€2,112
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herceg Novi
Saitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069€919
$1,517¥236.1K
-29.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
2.06
142.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Herceg Novi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Herceg Novi and $409 in Saitama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saitama pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Herceg Novi vs $31.00 in Saitama. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $278, with Herceg Novi 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
Herceg Novi vs Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Herceg Novi and in Saitama?
Herceg Novi and Saitama differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,282 vs $983 including rent). Saitama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Saitama. 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 Herceg Novi and in Saitama?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Herceg Novi versus $409 in Saitama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Herceg Novi and Saitama?
Childcare runs $466 in Herceg Novi versus $633 in Saitama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Saitama – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $38.00 in Herceg Novi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $983 in Saitama versus $1,282 in Herceg Novi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Saitama but tight or insufficient in Herceg Novi. The gap between the two cities makes Saitama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Herceg Novi and Saitama?
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 Herceg Novi or Saitama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Herceg Novi and Saitama 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: Herceg Novi or Saitama?
Expats usually find Saitama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Herceg Novi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Herceg Novi vs other spots: cost of living compared