Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,126 per month in Saitama vs $1,401 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,821 per month in Saitama vs $2,170 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,516 per month in Saitama vs $2,940 in Yokohama, rent included.

Saitama is about 20% cheaper than Yokohama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saitama sits 16% below the global median, while Yokohama is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 ¥970

$6.88 ¥1,100

-11.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.98 ¥5,436

$41.57 ¥6,649

-18.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ¥764

$5.63 ¥901

-15.10%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥487

$3.21 ¥514

-5.30%

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

$0.75 ¥120

$1.19 ¥191

-36.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥111

$0.74 ¥119

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ¥324

$2.13 ¥341

-5.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ¥501

$3.04 ¥487

2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥252

$1.50 ¥239

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.76 ¥282

-5.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$4.96 ¥793

-38.91%

Eggs

$2.24 ¥358

$2.30 ¥368

-2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ¥1,644

$10.19 ¥1,631

0.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 ¥983

$6.36 ¥1,018

-3.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 ¥2,494

$15.46 ¥2,473

0.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 ¥942

$6.09 ¥974

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥215

$3.13 ¥501

-57.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 ¥626

$4.12 ¥659

-5.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.90 ¥944

$5.98 ¥957

-1.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 ¥516

$3.40 ¥543

-5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ¥273

$4.26 ¥682

-59.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥216

$1.33 ¥213

1.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$0.89 ¥143

-1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ¥660

$4.24 ¥678

-2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ¥1,358

$6.41 ¥1,026

32.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥295

$1.77 ¥284

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥342

$2.05 ¥328

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 ¥259

$1.55 ¥248

4.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 ¥9,030

$54.5 ¥8,717

3.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥550

$3.48 ¥557

-1.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 ¥473

$2.76 ¥441

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.04 ¥3,526

$22.39 ¥3,582

-1.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.17 ¥188

5.98%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-0.21%

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

$18.8K ¥3.0M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

1.42%

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

$144 ¥23.0K

$142 ¥22.7K

1.64%

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

$19.50 ¥3,120

$28.10 ¥4,495

-30.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.90 ¥5,424

$34.65 ¥5,543

-2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 ¥10.8K

$55.8 ¥8,930

21.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 ¥2,256

$13.96 ¥2,233

1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.14 ¥1,943

$13.51 ¥2,162

-10.14%

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

$276 ¥44.2K

$283 ¥45.2K

-2.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-0.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ¥6,178

$42.37 ¥6,778

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.40 ¥4,383

$29.34 ¥4,694

-6.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 ¥9,630

$60.6 ¥9,700

-0.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.5 ¥11.1K

$110 ¥17.6K

-36.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 ¥68.6K

$839 ¥134.3K

-48.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ¥40.9K

$481 ¥76.9K

-46.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$858 ¥137.2K

$1,294 ¥207.0K

-33.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ¥105.6K

$862 ¥137.9K

-23.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,524 ¥723.8K

$6,268 ¥1.0M

-27.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,701 ¥432.2K

$4,500 ¥719.9K

-39.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,535 ¥245.6K

$2,672 ¥427.5K

-42.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

2.05

-9.27%

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

Last update for Saitama: May 30, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Saitama 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 74% 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 Saitama versus $42.00 in Yokohama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $327 – making Saitama 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

Saitama vs Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Yokohama is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,689 per month in Saitama 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 Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $276 per month in Saitama and $283 in Yokohama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,126, than in Yokohama at $1,401. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Saitama. 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.