Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiga and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiga and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,205 per month in Shiga vs $1,714 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Shiga vs $2,739 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,530 per month in Shiga vs $3,765 in Tokyo, rent included.

Shiga is about 30% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shiga sits 10% below the global median, while Tokyo is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ¥1,087

$8.47 ¥1,354

-19.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.05 ¥5,446

$49.34 ¥7,892

-30.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ¥793

$5.67 ¥907

-12.52%

Cappuccino

$2.70 ¥431

$3.60 ¥576

-25.00%

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

$1.09 ¥175

$1.25 ¥200

-12.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.87 ¥139

-12.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 ¥445

$4.26 ¥681

-34.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 ¥677

$5.27 ¥843

-19.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥209

$1.63 ¥261

-19.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ¥226

$1.52 ¥244

-7.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 ¥646

$5.56 ¥889

-27.34%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥390

$2.34 ¥374

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ¥1,697

$15.89 ¥2,541

-33.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 ¥1,034

$7.78 ¥1,244

-16.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 ¥3,040

$22.52 ¥3,602

-15.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 ¥585

$5.35 ¥855

-31.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ¥334

$2.65 ¥424

-21.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ¥417

$5.84 ¥935

-55.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 ¥694

$6.04 ¥967

-28.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 ¥265

$3.23 ¥517

-48.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 ¥207

$3.34 ¥534

-61.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ¥212

$1.49 ¥239

-11.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥142

$0.92 ¥148

-3.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ¥635

$4.20 ¥672

-5.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.23 ¥1,477

$9.13 ¥1,460

1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥338

$2.08 ¥332

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ¥475

$2.96 ¥474

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥266

$1.41 ¥225

18.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 ¥8,858

$81.9 ¥13.1K

-32.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥730

$3.50 ¥560

30.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 ¥531

$3.01 ¥481

10.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.32 ¥3,730

$26.66 ¥4,264

-12.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥185

$1.25 ¥200

-7.20%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.0K ¥3.7M

-1.06%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-1.38%

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

$134 ¥21.5K

$167 ¥26.7K

-19.66%

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

$27.40 ¥4,382

$26.17 ¥4,186

4.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.82 ¥4,929

$33.97 ¥5,434

-9.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ¥8,987

$69.3 ¥11.1K

-18.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ¥2,227

$20.10 ¥3,215

-30.75%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 ¥2,020

$13.09 ¥2,094

-3.51%

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

$69.5 ¥11.1K

$512 ¥81.8K

-86.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K ¥1.6M

$15.6K ¥2.5M

-34.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.76 ¥7,159

$61.6 ¥9,846

-27.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ¥4,674

$40.45 ¥6,470

-27.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 ¥10.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 ¥15.4K

$90.6 ¥14.5K

6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥74.5K

$1,118 ¥178.8K

-58.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ¥51.9K

$594 ¥94.9K

-45.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 ¥136.5K

$2,691 ¥430.4K

-68.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ¥104.2K

$1,335 ¥213.5K

-51.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,201 ¥671.9K

$10.7K ¥1.7M

-60.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,670 ¥427.0K

$4,981 ¥796.6K

-46.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,176 ¥188.1K

$2,491 ¥398.3K

-52.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

1.72

5.23%

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

Last update for Shiga: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Shiga versus $1,118 in Tokyo. 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 112% higher in Tokyo, 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 Shiga versus $49.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $382 – making Shiga 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

Shiga vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,205 in Shiga, $1,714 in Tokyo – roughly 42% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Shiga and $2,571 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $69.5 per month in Shiga and $512 in Tokyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Tokyo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shiga, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Tokyo at $1,714. In Shiga 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 $1,205 in Shiga to $1,714 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 Shiga. 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.