Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Kanazawa vs $1,701 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,904 per month in Kanazawa vs $2,691 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,587 per month in Kanazawa vs $3,682 in Tokyo, rent included.

Kanazawa is about 28% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kanazawa sits 9% below the global median, while Tokyo is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.66 ¥920

$8.09 ¥1,314

-30.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.17 ¥5,551

$48.77 ¥7,923

-29.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥799

$5.48 ¥891

-10.40%

Cappuccino

$3.24 ¥526

$3.60 ¥584

-10.00%

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

$1.13 ¥184

$1.27 ¥206

-11.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥116

$0.86 ¥140

-17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥458

$4.08 ¥662

-30.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 ¥712

$5.44 ¥883

-19.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ¥249

$1.62 ¥264

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.51 ¥245

-1.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥755

$5.34 ¥868

-12.92%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥397

$2.32 ¥377

5.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 ¥1,703

$15.96 ¥2,593

-34.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 ¥1,048

$8.12 ¥1,319

-20.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 ¥3,101

$22.55 ¥3,664

-15.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 ¥593

$5.52 ¥897

-33.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ¥359

$2.59 ¥421

-14.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$5.92 ¥962

-58.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 ¥724

$6.07 ¥987

-26.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 ¥277

$3.24 ¥527

-47.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 ¥210

$3.39 ¥551

-61.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥217

$1.45 ¥235

-7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥133

$0.87 ¥142

-5.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ¥644

$4.25 ¥691

-6.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ¥1,543

$9.31 ¥1,513

2.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥347

$2.05 ¥334

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.87 ¥466

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.48 ¥241

12.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 ¥9,073

$84.6 ¥13.7K

-34.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 ¥744

$3.38 ¥548

35.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥537

$2.91 ¥473

13.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.59 ¥3,832

$26.24 ¥4,264

-10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.20 ¥195

-1.67%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.48%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

-2.97%

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

$130 ¥21.2K

$168 ¥27.2K

-22.34%

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

$27.23 ¥4,424

$25.82 ¥4,195

5.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.98 ¥4,870

$33.50 ¥5,444

-10.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.98 ¥7,633

$70.9 ¥11.5K

-33.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.71 ¥2,227

$20.25 ¥3,289

-32.30%

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 ¥2,018

$13.07 ¥2,124

-4.97%

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

$69.4 ¥11.3K

$495 ¥80.3K

-85.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K ¥1.7M

$15.7K ¥2.6M

-34.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.17 ¥7,176

$61.5 ¥10,000

-28.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.41 ¥4,778

$41.66 ¥6,769

-29.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 ¥10.9K

$65.9 ¥10.7K

1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 ¥15.8K

$91.1 ¥14.8K

6.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ¥75.0K

$1,120 ¥182.0K

-58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 ¥54.6K

$606 ¥98.5K

-44.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ¥140.7K

$2,680 ¥435.5K

-67.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 ¥106.4K

$1,342 ¥218.0K

-51.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,777 ¥776.1K

$10.4K ¥1.7M

-53.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,341 ¥380.4K

$4,986 ¥810.1K

-53.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,882 ¥305.8K

$2,330 ¥378.5K

-19.21%

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 Kanazawa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Kanazawa versus $1,120 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 24% 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 Kanazawa versus $49.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $383 – making Kanazawa 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

Kanazawa vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,221 in Kanazawa, $1,701 in Tokyo – roughly 39% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,831 per month in Kanazawa and $2,552 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kanazawa, 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 $1,221 in Kanazawa and $1,701 in Tokyo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tokyo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Kanazawa to $1,701 in Tokyo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kanazawa. 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.