Cost of Living Comparison Between Matsuyama and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Matsuyama and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,169 per month in Matsuyama vs $1,653 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,854 per month in Matsuyama vs $2,585 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,540 per month in Matsuyama vs $3,517 in Tokyo, rent included.

Matsuyama is about 29% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Matsuyama sits 15% below the global median, while Tokyo is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.13 ¥958

$7.31 ¥1,142

-16.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.80 ¥4,187

$37.11 ¥5,798

-27.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ¥811

$4.98 ¥777

4.22%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ¥444

$3.65 ¥570

-22.19%

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

$1.04 ¥163

$1.69 ¥263

-38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥111

$0.92 ¥144

-22.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ¥379

$3.65 ¥570

-33.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ¥489

$5.06 ¥791

-38.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ¥229

$1.55 ¥243

-5.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 ¥257

$1.72 ¥269

-4.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 ¥679

$5.92 ¥925

-26.52%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥291

$2.23 ¥349

-16.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.74 ¥1,990

$11.36 ¥1,775

12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 ¥907

$7.67 ¥1,199

-24.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 ¥2,459

$20.11 ¥3,142

-21.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 ¥706

$5.18 ¥809

-12.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ¥345

$2.51 ¥393

-11.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥489

$4.64 ¥725

-32.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 ¥592

$5.91 ¥923

-35.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ¥360

$3.54 ¥553

-35.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 ¥345

$3.44 ¥538

-35.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ¥196

$1.22 ¥190

2.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥127

$0.86 ¥134

-5.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.42 ¥691

$3.97 ¥621

11.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 ¥1,169

$9.53 ¥1,489

-21.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥307

$1.78 ¥278

10.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥355

$3.03 ¥474

-24.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 ¥234

$1.23 ¥192

21.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ¥8,646

$67.6 ¥10.6K

-18.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ¥555

$3.16 ¥494

12.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.76 ¥431

$3.04 ¥475

-9.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 ¥2,490

$18.14 ¥2,834

-12.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥190

$1.04 ¥162

17.31%

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

$19.3K ¥3.0M

$21.7K ¥3.4M

-11.19%

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

$16.1K ¥2.5M

$14.7K ¥2.3M

9.64%

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

$131 ¥20.5K

$157 ¥24.5K

-16.39%

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

$26.21 ¥4,095

$22.07 ¥3,448

18.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.89 ¥4,826

$30.21 ¥4,720

2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.74 ¥6,989

$62.5 ¥9,770

-28.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.32 ¥3,955

Cinema Ticket

$11.83 ¥1,847

$12.30 ¥1,921

-3.82%

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

$498 ¥77.8K

$1,300 ¥203.0K

-61.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.8M

$17.7K ¥2.8M

-35.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 ¥8,178

$51.2 ¥8,000

2.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.39 ¥4,278

$32.35 ¥5,054

-15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.6 ¥8,212

$62.6 ¥9,777

-16.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 ¥14.8K

$74.6 ¥11.6K

27.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥74.4K

$1,230 ¥192.2K

-61.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ¥49.0K

$660 ¥103.0K

-52.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,160 ¥181.2K

$2,368 ¥369.9K

-51.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 ¥100.0K

$1,357 ¥212.1K

-52.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,948 ¥616.8K

$8,747 ¥1.4M

-54.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ¥306.6K

$3,944 ¥616.2K

-50.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,843 ¥444.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.06

1.93

6.74%

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

Last update for Matsuyama: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Matsuyama versus $1,230 in Tokyo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Matsuyama versus $37.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $354 – making Matsuyama 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

Matsuyama vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,169 in Matsuyama, $1,653 in Tokyo – roughly 41% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,753 per month in Matsuyama and $2,480 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 22% less in Matsuyama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $498 per month in Matsuyama and $1,300 in Tokyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matsuyama, where all-in costs run around $1,169, than in Tokyo at $1,653. In Matsuyama 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 $1,169 in Matsuyama to $1,653 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 Matsuyama. 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.