Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,401 in Yokohama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Niigata versus $2,170 in Yokohama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,581 in Niigata versus $2,940 in Yokohama.

Living in Niigata costs roughly 20% less than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Niigata is 16% below, Yokohama is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.65 ¥904

$6.88 ¥1,100

-17.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.78 ¥7,803

$41.57 ¥6,648

17.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 ¥878

$5.63 ¥901

-2.49%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ¥330

$3.21 ¥514

-35.83%

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

$1.21 ¥193

$1.19 ¥191

1.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥126

$0.74 ¥119

6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥451

$2.13 ¥341

32.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 ¥551

$3.04 ¥487

13.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥210

$1.50 ¥239

-12.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.76 ¥282

-31.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 ¥536

$4.96 ¥793

-32.46%

Eggs

$2.42 ¥387

$2.30 ¥368

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.76 ¥1,241

$10.19 ¥1,630

-23.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 ¥950

$6.36 ¥1,018

-6.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.94 ¥3,670

$15.46 ¥2,472

48.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 ¥649

$6.09 ¥974

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥411

$3.13 ¥501

-17.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ¥506

$4.12 ¥658

-23.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ¥477

$5.98 ¥957

-50.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 ¥363

$3.40 ¥543

-33.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 ¥362

$4.26 ¥682

-46.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ¥166

$1.33 ¥213

-21.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥133

$0.89 ¥142

-6.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 ¥642

$4.24 ¥678

-5.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ¥682

$6.41 ¥1,026

-33.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥306

$1.77 ¥284

7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ¥436

$2.05 ¥328

32.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 ¥294

$1.55 ¥248

18.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,798

$54.5 ¥8,716

0.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 ¥462

$3.48 ¥557

-16.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 ¥443

$2.76 ¥441

0.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.54 ¥3,285

$22.39 ¥3,581

-8.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥194

$1.17 ¥188

4.27%

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

$16.2K ¥2.6M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-30.09%

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

$15.9K ¥2.5M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

-14.49%

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

$162 ¥26.0K

$142 ¥22.7K

14.68%

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

$26.95 ¥4,310

$28.10 ¥4,495

-4.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 ¥5,337

$34.65 ¥5,542

-3.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ¥9,609

$55.8 ¥8,929

7.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.25 ¥1,640

$13.96 ¥2,232

-26.58%

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 ¥2,082

$13.51 ¥2,162

-3.63%

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

$86.1 ¥13.8K

$283 ¥45.2K

-69.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K ¥2.5M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

12.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.76 ¥6,679

$42.37 ¥6,777

-1.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.15 ¥3,384

$29.34 ¥4,693

-27.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.60 ¥6,014

$60.6 ¥9,698

-37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 ¥9,097

$110 ¥17.6K

-48.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ¥62.1K

$839 ¥134.3K

-53.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ¥44.7K

$481 ¥76.9K

-41.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ¥136.0K

$1,294 ¥207.0K

-34.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥106.4K

$862 ¥137.9K

-22.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,514 ¥722.1K

$6,268 ¥1.0M

-27.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 ¥373.0K

$4,500 ¥719.8K

-48.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,234 ¥197.5K

$2,672 ¥427.5K

-53.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.24

2.05

-39.51%

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

Last update for Niigata: June 1, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Niigata and $839 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 116% 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: $49.00 in Niigata vs $42.00 in Yokohama. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $327, with Niigata cheaper for home cooking.

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

Niigata vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Niigata and Yokohama differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,122 vs $1,401 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Yokohama earns 116% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Niigata versus $839 in Yokohama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,122 per month in Niigata versus $1,401 in Yokohama – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Niigata runs roughly 1% less than in Yokohama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,401 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Niigata 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.

Expats usually find Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.