🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $958 in Kurume versus $1,340 in Yokohama.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,496 in Kurume versus $2,073 in Yokohama.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,035 in Kurume versus $2,806 in Yokohama.
🌍Living in Kurume costs roughly 29% less than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kurume30% lower, Yokohama2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21¥655
$6.20¥965
-32.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.25¥6,576
$43.57¥6,781
-3.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.72¥578
$4.88¥760
-23.77%
Cappuccino
$1.86¥289
$3.37¥525
-44.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70¥110
$1.04¥162
-32.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53¥82.5
$0.79¥123
-32.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.22¥501
$2.43¥378
32.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54¥240
$3.11¥484
-50.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24¥192
$1.38¥215
-10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22¥189
$1.64¥255
-25.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.13¥799
$3.66¥569
40.16%
Eggs
$1.86¥290
$2.05¥319
-9.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.35¥2,855
$11.53¥1,794
59.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.24¥815
$6.08¥946
-13.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.26¥2,531
$14.31¥2,228
13.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68¥573
$5.75¥894
-36.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86¥289
$2.81¥438
-33.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81¥437
$2.93¥456
-4.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21¥500
$4.11¥640
-21.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11¥329
$2.52¥392
-16.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.51¥391
$2.59¥404
-3.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06¥165
$1.28¥199
-17.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89¥139
$0.79¥123
12.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64¥566
$3.64¥567
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24¥971
$6.35¥989
-1.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65¥257
$1.78¥277
-7.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12¥174
$1.98¥308
-43.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50¥233
$1.41¥219
6.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.6¥8,347
$56.6¥8,803
-5.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.98¥619
$3.22¥501
23.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99¥310
$2.48¥387
-19.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.80¥2,770
$20.42¥3,179
-12.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64¥100
$1.11¥172
-42.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K¥3.4M
$20.8K¥3.2M
3.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥2.7M
$18.2K¥2.8M
-4.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210¥32.7K
$130¥20.2K
62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.47¥3,808
$23.66¥3,683
3.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.50¥3,502
$31.55¥4,910
-28.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4¥8,154
$50.8¥7,898
3.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.57¥1,800
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76¥1,052
$12.73¥1,982
-46.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125¥19.4K
$621¥96.6K
-79.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K¥1.9M
$14.4K¥2.2M
-14.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.64¥5,859
$61.0¥9,494
-38.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.22¥1,902
$32.14¥5,003
-61.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$24.03¥3,740
$60.3¥9,377
-60.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.30¥4,871
$101¥15.7K
-69.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470¥73.1K
$1,137¥177.0K
-58.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$124¥19.3K
$449¥69.8K
-72.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$465¥72.3K
$2,273¥353.7K
-79.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$308¥48.0K
$836¥130.1K
-63.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,291¥667.8K
$6,574¥1.0M
-34.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,012¥313.1K
$4,057¥631.4K
-50.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kurume
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,530¥238.1K
$2,611¥406.4K
-41.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.97
2.12
-7.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kurume: August 31, 2026
Last update for Yokohama: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Kurume and $1,137 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 71% 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: $42.00 in Kurume vs $44.00 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $292 per month, with Kurume 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
Kurume vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kurume and in Yokohama?
Kurume and Yokohama differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($958 vs $1,340 including rent). Kurume is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 71% lower in Yokohama. 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 Kurume and in Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Kurume versus $1,137 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 Kurume – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $44.00 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 $958 in Kurume versus $1,340 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kurume but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Kurume the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kurume 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 Kurume or Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kurume 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: Kurume or Yokohama?
Expats usually find Kurume gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.