Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,033 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,684 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,639 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,693 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,244 per month in Hiroshima vs $3,703 in Tokyo, rent included.

Hiroshima is about 39% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hiroshima sits 23% below the global median, while Tokyo is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.10 ¥976

$8.09 ¥1,294

-24.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.44 ¥5,508

$48.31 ¥7,727

-28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥762

$5.69 ¥910

-16.34%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ¥477

$3.57 ¥571

-16.53%

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

$1.11 ¥177

$1.26 ¥202

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.93 ¥148

-19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 ¥445

$4.25 ¥681

-34.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥673

$5.30 ¥848

-20.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ¥242

$1.58 ¥252

-4.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ¥227

$1.59 ¥254

-10.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥745

$5.32 ¥851

-12.59%

Eggs

$2.18 ¥349

$2.41 ¥385

-9.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 ¥890

$16.04 ¥2,565

-65.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

$7.85 ¥1,255

-18.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ¥1,935

$23.16 ¥3,704

-47.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 ¥568

$5.23 ¥836

-32.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 ¥346

$2.57 ¥412

-15.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ¥669

$5.73 ¥917

-27.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 ¥679

$5.97 ¥955

-28.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥264

$3.21 ¥514

-48.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.97 ¥635

$3.51 ¥562

13.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.48 ¥236

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥132

$0.90 ¥143

-8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥614

$4.27 ¥684

-10.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 ¥1,225

$9.39 ¥1,501

-18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥325

$2.15 ¥343

-5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ¥417

$2.88 ¥461

-9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.12 ¥339

$1.48 ¥237

43.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.20 ¥3,871

$84.9 ¥13.6K

-71.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ¥736

$3.49 ¥559

31.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ¥205

$2.87 ¥458

-55.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.22 ¥3,714

$26.77 ¥4,281

-13.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

$1.22 ¥195

-2.46%

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

$23.3K ¥3.7M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-0.56%

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

$17.1K ¥2.7M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-2.17%

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

$132 ¥21.2K

$164 ¥26.2K

-19.15%

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

$26.82 ¥4,290

$26.63 ¥4,259

0.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.18 ¥4,828

$33.94 ¥5,428

-11.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 ¥8,821

$69.0 ¥11.0K

-20.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.61 ¥898

$20.11 ¥3,217

-72.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.29 ¥1,966

$13.06 ¥2,088

-5.90%

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

$175 ¥28.0K

$506 ¥81.0K

-65.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,684 ¥589.3K

$15.7K ¥2.5M

-76.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.65 ¥4,902

$60.1 ¥9,611

-48.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.85 ¥4,454

$40.31 ¥6,448

-30.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.4 ¥8,387

$64.7 ¥10.3K

-18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.9 ¥10.9K

$91.2 ¥14.6K

-25.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 ¥56.3K

$1,094 ¥175.0K

-67.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ¥38.9K

$596 ¥95.4K

-59.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥122.8K

$2,609 ¥417.4K

-70.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ¥86.5K

$1,339 ¥214.2K

-59.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,959 ¥313.4K

$10.8K ¥1.7M

-81.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,643 ¥262.7K

$4,974 ¥795.6K

-66.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,415 ¥386.3K

$2,501 ¥400.1K

-3.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

1.72

5.23%

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

Last update for Hiroshima: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in Hiroshima 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 4% 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 $34.00 in Hiroshima versus $48.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $382 – making Hiroshima 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

Hiroshima vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tokyo costs about 63% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,033 in Hiroshima and $1,684 in Tokyo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 251% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Tokyo at $1,684. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hiroshima costs $1,033 versus $1,684 in Tokyo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Hiroshima. 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.