Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibaraki and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibaraki and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,186 in Ibaraki versus $1,394 in Yokohama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,862 in Ibaraki versus $2,137 in Yokohama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,537 in Ibaraki versus $2,881 in Yokohama.

Living in Ibaraki costs roughly 15% less than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ibaraki is 12% below, Yokohama is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.09 ¥1,134
$7.00 ¥1,119
1.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.80 ¥5,566
$42.18 ¥6,746
-17.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.25 ¥839
$5.70 ¥911
-7.89%
Cappuccino
$3.17 ¥507
$3.20 ¥512
-0.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥168
$1.20 ¥192
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥123
$0.79 ¥127
-2.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ¥414
$2.05 ¥329
26.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ¥512
$3.18 ¥509
0.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.34 ¥374
$1.57 ¥251
49.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 ¥257
$1.67 ¥267
-3.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 ¥546
$5.05 ¥808
-32.48%
Eggs
$2.30 ¥368
$2.20 ¥352
4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 ¥1,632
$9.93 ¥1,588
2.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 ¥1,026
$6.45 ¥1,032
-0.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 ¥2,446
$15.40 ¥2,463
-0.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.29 ¥846
$6.19 ¥989
-14.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 ¥403
$3.13 ¥501
-19.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 ¥657
$3.95 ¥632
4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.01 ¥961
$5.85 ¥936
2.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 ¥483
$3.38 ¥541
-10.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 ¥431
$4.22 ¥675
-36.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 ¥215
$1.34 ¥214
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥125
$0.83 ¥132
-6.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 ¥670
$4.04 ¥646
3.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 ¥1,330
$6.17 ¥988
34.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 ¥418
$1.82 ¥292
43.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ¥349
$2.13 ¥340
2.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 ¥294
$1.51 ¥242
21.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.1 ¥8,973
$54.7 ¥8,741
2.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.23 ¥836
$3.50 ¥560
49.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.93 ¥468
$2.76 ¥442
6.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.68 ¥3,308
$22.09 ¥3,533
-6.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥199
$1.19 ¥190
5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K ¥3.7M
$23.5K ¥3.8M
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥2.7M
$18.6K ¥3.0M
-8.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 ¥23.3K
$140 ¥22.5K
3.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.69 ¥4,268
$27.84 ¥4,452
-4.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.05 ¥5,446
$33.30 ¥5,326
2.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.7 ¥9,069
$55.1 ¥8,807
2.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.89 ¥2,221
$14.02 ¥2,242
-0.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36 ¥1,976
$13.72 ¥2,195
-9.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 ¥44.7K
$287 ¥45.9K
-2.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K ¥2.1M
$14.1K ¥2.3M
-6.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.50 ¥4,718
$41.08 ¥6,570
-28.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65 ¥4,742
$29.07 ¥4,650
2.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥11.5K
$59.3 ¥9,479
21.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ¥13.8K
$112 ¥17.9K
-22.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ¥68.8K
$831 ¥132.9K
-48.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 ¥45.6K
$483 ¥77.3K
-41.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 ¥137.6K
$1,251 ¥200.1K
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$571 ¥91.4K
$859 ¥137.3K
-33.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,080 ¥652.6K
$6,283 ¥1.0M
-35.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,478 ¥396.4K
$4,419 ¥706.8K
-43.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibaraki
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,548 ¥407.5K
$2,724 ¥435.7K
-6.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.78
2.05
-13.17%

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

Last update for Ibaraki: June 7, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Ibaraki and $831 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 7% 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: $35.00 in Ibaraki vs $42.00 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $324 per month, with Ibaraki cheaper across the board.

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
Ibaraki vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ibaraki and Yokohama?
Ibaraki and Yokohama differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,186 vs $1,394 including rent). Ibaraki 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 7% 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 Ibaraki and Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Ibaraki versus $831 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 1% 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 Ibaraki – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $42.00 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 $1,186 in Ibaraki versus $1,394 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ibaraki but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Ibaraki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ibaraki 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 Ibaraki or Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ibaraki 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: Ibaraki or Yokohama?
Expats usually find Ibaraki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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