🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,038 in Okayama versus $1,401 in Yokohama.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,689 in Okayama versus $2,170 in Yokohama.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,340 in Okayama versus $2,940 in Yokohama.
🙂Living in Okayama costs roughly 26% less than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Okayama is 23% below, Yokohama is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.75¥1,080
$6.88¥1,100
-1.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.31¥4,369
$41.57¥6,648
-34.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.97¥956
$5.63¥901
6.04%
Cappuccino
$1.93¥308
$3.21¥514
-39.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74¥119
$1.19¥191
-37.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70¥111
$0.74¥119
-5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06¥330
$2.13¥341
-3.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥341
$3.04¥487
-29.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57¥252
$1.50¥239
4.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68¥108
$1.76¥282
-61.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.83¥773
$4.96¥793
-2.62%
Eggs
$1.71¥273
$2.30¥368
-25.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.96¥2,712
$10.19¥1,630
66.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.97¥1,115
$6.36¥1,018
9.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.49¥2,478
$15.46¥2,472
0.19%
Apples(1kg)
$5.54¥885
$6.09¥974
-9.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78¥445
$3.13¥501
-11.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.75¥759
$4.12¥658
15.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77¥762
$5.98¥957
-20.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50¥400
$3.40¥543
-26.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11¥337
$4.26¥682
-50.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31¥210
$1.33¥213
-1.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78¥125
$0.89¥142
-12.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51¥562
$4.24¥678
-17.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.43¥1,508
$6.41¥1,026
47.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05¥327
$1.77¥284
15.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02¥323
$2.05¥328
-1.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62¥259
$1.55¥248
4.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.1¥8,979
$54.5¥8,716
3.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56¥570
$3.48¥557
2.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64¥423
$2.76¥441
-4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.00¥3,839
$22.39¥3,581
7.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09¥174
$1.17¥188
-6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K¥3.6M
$23.1K¥3.7M
-1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K¥2.7M
$18.6K¥3.0M
-10.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.1¥12.6K
$142¥22.7K
-44.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.02¥2,402
$28.10¥4,495
-46.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.37¥4,378
$34.65¥5,542
-21.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.3¥8,838
$55.8¥8,929
-1.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.96¥2,233
$13.96¥2,232
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.51¥2,002
$13.51¥2,162
-7.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$473¥75.7K
$283¥45.2K
67.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K¥1.8M
$13.8K¥2.2M
-19.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.68¥7,307
$42.37¥6,777
7.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.67¥5,226
$29.34¥4,693
11.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.8¥9,082
$60.6¥9,698
-6.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0¥14.6K
$110¥17.6K
-17.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365¥58.4K
$839¥134.3K
-56.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$207¥33.1K
$481¥76.9K
-57.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724¥115.9K
$1,294¥207.0K
-44.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476¥76.1K
$862¥137.9K
-44.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,268¥1.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,500¥719.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okayama
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,364¥218.1K
$2,672¥427.5K
-48.97%
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 Okayama: June 1, 2026
Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Okayama and $839 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 96% 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: $27.00 in Okayama vs $42.00 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $327 per month, with Okayama 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
Okayama vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Okayama and Yokohama?
Okayama and Yokohama differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($1,038 vs $1,401 including rent). Okayama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Yokohama earns 96% less. 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 Okayama and Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Okayama versus $839 in Yokohama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Okayama or Yokohama?
All in, you'll spend $1,038 per month in Okayama versus $1,401 in Yokohama – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Okayama and Yokohama?
A monthly transit pass in Okayama runs roughly 3% less than in Yokohama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,038 in Okayama versus $1,401 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Okayama but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Okayama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Okayama 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 Okayama or Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Okayama 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: Okayama or Yokohama?
Expats usually find Okayama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.