Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Kyoto vs $1,401 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,155 per month in Kyoto vs $2,170 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,022 per month in Kyoto vs $2,940 in Yokohama, rent included.

Kyoto is about 8% cheaper than Yokohama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kyoto sits 4% below the global median, while Yokohama is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.45 ¥1,671

$6.88 ¥1,100

51.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.99 ¥5,437

$41.57 ¥6,648

-18.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 ¥909

$5.63 ¥901

0.89%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥568

$3.21 ¥514

10.59%

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

$0.88 ¥141

$1.19 ¥191

-26.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥126

$0.74 ¥119

6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 ¥544

$2.13 ¥341

59.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.41 ¥1,026

$3.04 ¥487

110.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥259

$1.50 ¥239

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥285

$1.76 ¥282

1.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 ¥506

$4.96 ¥793

-36.09%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥362

$2.30 ¥368

-1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 ¥1,502

$10.19 ¥1,630

-7.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 ¥1,199

$6.36 ¥1,018

17.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.41 ¥2,464

$15.46 ¥2,472

-0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 ¥894

$6.09 ¥974

-8.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥411

$3.13 ¥501

-17.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.66 ¥1,065

$4.12 ¥658

61.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 ¥639

$5.98 ¥957

-33.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ¥254

$3.40 ¥543

-53.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 ¥361

$4.26 ¥682

-47.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ¥200

$1.33 ¥213

-6.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ¥160

$0.89 ¥142

12.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥679

$4.24 ¥678

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 ¥1,186

$6.41 ¥1,026

15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥277

$1.77 ¥284

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ¥579

$2.05 ¥328

76.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$1.55 ¥248

3.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.6 ¥11.1K

$54.5 ¥8,716

27.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ¥562

$3.48 ¥557

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 ¥473

$2.76 ¥441

6.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 ¥2,828

$22.39 ¥3,581

-21.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥190

$1.17 ¥188

1.71%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

1.29%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

-6.78%

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

$114 ¥18.2K

$142 ¥22.7K

-19.72%

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

$25.95 ¥4,151

$28.10 ¥4,495

-7.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.05 ¥5,447

$34.65 ¥5,542

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.3 ¥9,323

$55.8 ¥8,929

4.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.74 ¥3,317

$13.96 ¥2,232

48.57%

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 ¥2,101

$13.51 ¥2,162

-2.74%

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

$370 ¥59.2K

$283 ¥45.2K

31.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,400 ¥1.2M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-46.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.61 ¥7,295

$42.37 ¥6,777

7.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.15 ¥5,142

$29.34 ¥4,693

9.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 ¥11.7K

$60.6 ¥9,698

20.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ¥14.5K

$110 ¥17.6K

-17.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 ¥95.4K

$839 ¥134.3K

-28.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ¥56.3K

$481 ¥76.9K

-26.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,686 ¥269.6K

$1,294 ¥207.0K

30.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 ¥146.4K

$862 ¥137.9K

6.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,268 ¥1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,500 ¥719.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,875 ¥299.9K

$2,672 ¥427.5K

-29.84%

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 Kyoto: June 1, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $596 in Kyoto versus $839 in Yokohama. 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 43% higher in Yokohama, 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 Kyoto versus $42.00 in Yokohama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $327 – making Kyoto 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

Kyoto vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Kyoto, $1,401 in Yokohama – roughly 9% apart. Yokohama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,931 per month in Kyoto and $2,101 in Yokohama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kyoto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Yokohama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Kyoto and $42.00 in Yokohama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyoto, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Yokohama at $1,401. In Kyoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Yokohama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Kyoto to $1,401 in Yokohama. 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 Kyoto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yokohama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.