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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $919 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,653 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,482 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,585 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Hiroshima vs $3,517 in Tokyo, rent included.

Hiroshima is about 44% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hiroshima sits 33% below the global median, while Tokyo is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.05 ¥945

$7.31 ¥1,142

-17.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 ¥4,879

$37.11 ¥5,798

-15.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 ¥764

$4.98 ¥777

-1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ¥426

$3.65 ¥570

-25.48%

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

$1.02 ¥160

$1.69 ¥263

-39.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ¥105

$0.92 ¥144

-27.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 ¥413

$3.65 ¥570

-27.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 ¥570

$5.06 ¥791

-27.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥235

$1.55 ¥243

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ¥243

$1.72 ¥269

-9.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥731

$5.92 ¥925

-20.95%

Eggs

$2.09 ¥326

$2.23 ¥349

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 ¥770

$11.36 ¥1,775

-56.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 ¥931

$7.67 ¥1,199

-22.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ¥1,730

$20.11 ¥3,142

-44.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ¥529

$5.18 ¥809

-34.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ¥297

$2.51 ¥393

-24.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 ¥584

$4.64 ¥725

-19.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 ¥582

$5.91 ¥923

-36.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 ¥234

$3.54 ¥553

-57.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ¥537

$3.44 ¥538

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 ¥200

$1.22 ¥190

4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥121

$0.86 ¥134

-10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.83 ¥599

$3.97 ¥621

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.63 ¥1,192

$9.53 ¥1,489

-19.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥289

$1.78 ¥278

3.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ¥384

$3.03 ¥474

-18.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 ¥298

$1.23 ¥192

55.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ¥10.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 ¥581

$3.16 ¥494

17.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 ¥192

$3.04 ¥475

-59.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.94 ¥3,271

$18.14 ¥2,834

15.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ¥163

$1.04 ¥162

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

$21.3K ¥3.3M

$21.7K ¥3.4M

-1.60%

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

$15.2K ¥2.4M

$14.7K ¥2.3M

3.01%

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

$137 ¥21.4K

$157 ¥24.5K

-12.85%

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

$23.88 ¥3,730

$22.07 ¥3,448

8.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.26 ¥4,727

$30.21 ¥4,720

0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 ¥8,368

$62.5 ¥9,770

-14.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.80 ¥749

$25.32 ¥3,955

-81.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.97 ¥1,870

$12.30 ¥1,921

-2.68%

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

$158 ¥24.6K

$1,300 ¥203.0K

-87.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,422 ¥534.6K

$17.7K ¥2.8M

-80.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.18 ¥4,403

$51.2 ¥8,000

-44.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.90 ¥3,891

$32.35 ¥5,054

-23.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.12 ¥7,362

$62.6 ¥9,777

-24.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 ¥9,654

$74.6 ¥11.6K

-17.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 ¥37.2K

$1,230 ¥192.2K

-80.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 ¥28.9K

$660 ¥103.0K

-71.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 ¥99.2K

$2,368 ¥369.9K

-73.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ¥78.6K

$1,357 ¥212.1K

-62.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,883 ¥294.1K

$8,747 ¥1.4M

-78.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,889 ¥295.1K

$3,944 ¥616.2K

-52.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,956 ¥305.6K

$2,843 ¥444.2K

-31.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.21

1.93

14.51%

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

Last update for Hiroshima: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Hiroshima versus $1,230 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 45% 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 $31.00 in Hiroshima versus $37.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $354 – 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 80% 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 $1,378 per month in Hiroshima and $2,480 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Hiroshima and $37.00 in Tokyo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Tokyo at $1,653. 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 $919 versus $1,653 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.