Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Akita Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Akita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,255 in Akita, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $1,970 in Akita, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,686 in Akita, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 36% more than Akita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 27% above the global median, while Akita is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,314

$7.05 ¥1,146

14.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,923

$34.41 ¥5,591

41.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$5.27 ¥856

3.98%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.76 ¥611

-4.26%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.09 ¥176

16.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.87 ¥141

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.09 ¥340

95.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$3.21 ¥522

69.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.59 ¥258

1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.59 ¥259

-5.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.84 ¥786

10.33%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.29 ¥372

1.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,593

$10.26 ¥1,668

55.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.23 ¥1,012

30.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,664

$15.15 ¥2,462

48.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$2.66 ¥432

-2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$3.95 ¥641

49.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$6.03 ¥980

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$3.07 ¥499

5.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$2.67 ¥433

26.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.40 ¥227

3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.88 ¥144

-1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.28 ¥695

-0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,513

$7.99 ¥1,298

16.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.91 ¥311

7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.22 ¥361

29.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.58 ¥257

-6.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.7K

$56.2 ¥9,126

50.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥548

$3.37 ¥548

0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.93 ¥476

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,264

$20.57 ¥3,343

27.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.49 ¥242

-19.46%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$22.7K ¥3.7M

3.58%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-0.46%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$143 ¥23.3K

16.86%

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

$25.82 ¥4,195

$27.40 ¥4,451

-5.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,444

$34.40 ¥5,589

-2.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$56.4 ¥9,166

25.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,289

$14.13 ¥2,295

43.31%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,124

$12.26 ¥1,992

6.61%

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

$495 ¥80.3K

$287 ¥46.7K

72.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

16.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10,000

$45.35 ¥7,368

35.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,769

$29.34 ¥4,767

41.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$59.6 ¥9,676

10.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$92.1 ¥15.0K

-1.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$460 ¥74.7K

143.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.5K

$328 ¥53.3K

85.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.5K

$873 ¥141.9K

206.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$651 ¥105.7K

106.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$4,404 ¥715.5K

135.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.1K

$2,240 ¥364.0K

122.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.5K

$1,585 ¥257.5K

46.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.78

-3.37%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Akita: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $460 in Akita. 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 47% 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 $49.00 in Tokyo versus $34.00 in Akita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $318 – making Akita 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

Tokyo vs Akita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tokyo costs about 36% more than Akita, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,552 per month in Tokyo and $1,882 in Akita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 51% less in Akita. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Tokyo and $287 in Akita. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Akita, where all-in costs run around $1,255, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Akita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Akita costs $1,255 versus $1,701 in Tokyo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Akita. 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.