Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawagoe and Yokohama

For one person, living is cheaper in Kawagoe: $1,075 a month against $1,340 in Yokohama, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kawagoe, Japan
Yokohama, Japan
Kawagoe
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,075
/mo nomad
Yokohama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,340
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kawagoe and in Yokohama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kawagoe and in Yokohama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,075 in Kawagoe versus $1,340 in Yokohama.

  • Kawagoe $1,075
  • Yokohama $1,340

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,744 in Kawagoe versus $2,054 in Yokohama.

  • Kawagoe $1,744
  • Yokohama $2,054

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,413 in Kawagoe versus $2,768 in Yokohama.

  • Kawagoe $2,413
  • Yokohama $2,768

Living in Kawagoe costs roughly 20% less than in Yokohama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kawagoe 21% lower, Yokohama 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.33 ¥1,000
$6.45 ¥1,018
-1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.23 ¥6,507
$40.72 ¥6,427
1.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 ¥782
$5.19 ¥820
-4.62%
Cappuccino
$3.50 ¥552
$3.41 ¥538
2.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ¥145
$1.06 ¥167
-13.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥82.6
$0.74 ¥116
-29.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 ¥301
$2.60 ¥410
-26.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ¥432
$3.09 ¥489
-11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ¥182
$1.46 ¥231
-21.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 ¥202
$1.75 ¥277
-26.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 ¥579
$3.59 ¥567
2.23%
Eggs
$2.08 ¥328
$2.03 ¥320
2.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.34 ¥1,001
$10.26 ¥1,619
-38.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.90 ¥932
$6.14 ¥969
-3.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 ¥2,236
$14.66 ¥2,314
-3.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.82 ¥918
$5.54 ¥875
5.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 ¥369
$2.76 ¥436
-15.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 ¥455
$2.96 ¥467
-2.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.12 ¥492
$4.10 ¥647
-23.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 ¥401
$2.52 ¥398
0.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 ¥292
$2.58 ¥407
-28.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ¥201
$1.30 ¥205
-2.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥120
$0.77 ¥121
-1.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83 ¥604
$3.90 ¥616
-1.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.65 ¥734
$6.30 ¥995
-26.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥286
$1.82 ¥288
-0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥320
$2.09 ¥330
-2.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 ¥469
$1.37 ¥217
116.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.8 ¥8,338
$62.4 ¥9,853
-15.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ¥491
$3.11 ¥491
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.63 ¥415
$2.66 ¥420
-1.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.31 ¥3,205
$20.61 ¥3,253
-1.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥168
$1.07 ¥169
-0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.6K ¥2.5M
$21.6K ¥3.4M
-27.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.8K ¥2.0M
$16.1K ¥2.5M
-20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 ¥21.0K
$130 ¥20.6K
2.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.18 ¥3,500
$24.74 ¥3,905
-10.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.10 ¥4,909
$32.65 ¥5,154
-4.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.19 ¥6,817
$48.93 ¥7,723
-11.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.97 ¥4,888
$11.78 ¥1,859
162.90%
Cinema Ticket
$10.95 ¥1,729
$13.09 ¥2,066
-16.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 ¥50.6K
$805 ¥127.1K
-60.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,292 ¥993.1K
$15.0K ¥2.4M
-57.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.66 ¥4,997
$61.7 ¥9,730
-48.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.72 ¥5,323
$37.72 ¥5,954
-10.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.55 ¥6,874
$62.6 ¥9,884
-30.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.2 ¥14.7K
$102 ¥16.1K
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ¥64.2K
$1,097 ¥173.1K
-62.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 ¥42.1K
$450 ¥71.0K
-40.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$862 ¥136.1K
$1,796 ¥283.5K
-52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 ¥95.5K
$805 ¥127.0K
-24.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,474 ¥390.5K
$5,778 ¥911.9K
-57.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,772 ¥279.6K
$4,066 ¥641.7K
-56.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kawagoe
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,597 ¥252.0K
$2,669 ¥421.3K
-40.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.6
2.64
-39.39%

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

Last update for Kawagoe: October 26, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kawagoe
$267
Yokohama
$450 68.6% $183
Groceries & Markets
Kawagoe
$257
Yokohama
$290 13% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawagoe
$186
Yokohama
$188 0.8% $1.5
Eating Out
Kawagoe
$128
Yokohama
$134 4.8% $6.2
Clothing & Footwear
Kawagoe
$91
Yokohama
$119 30.5% $28
Getting Around
Kawagoe
$81
Yokohama
$84 4.2% $3.4
Sport & Entertainment
Kawagoe
$65
Yokohama
$75 15.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Kawagoe and $1,097 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 67% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $41 in Kawagoe vs $41 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $290 per month, with Kawagoe cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Kawagoe
🇯🇵 Yokohama
🕒 Local time
15:29 3:29 PM
15:29 3:29 PM
Same time as Kawagoe
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
350,745
3,777,491
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.34 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kawagoe Yokohama 54 km
From you
  • Kawagoe
  • Yokohama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kawagoe vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kawagoe and in Yokohama?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,075 in Kawagoe and $1,340 in Yokohama, so Kawagoe is about 20% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Kawagoe. 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 Kawagoe and in Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Kawagoe versus $1,097 in Yokohama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kawagoe and Yokohama?
Childcare runs $320 in Kawagoe versus $805 in Yokohama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Kawagoe and in Yokohama?
A monthly transit pass in Kawagoe runs roughly 15% less than in Yokohama. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How far does $2,000 go in Kawagoe compared to Yokohama?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Kawagoe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Kawagoe 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 Kawagoe or Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kawagoe and Yokohama are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Kawagoe and Yokohama?
It comes down to priorities – Kawagoe wins on affordability, Yokohama on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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