Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Ba

For one person, living is cheaper in Ba: $92.7 a month against $1,663 in Tokyo, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Tokyo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,663
/mo nomad
Ba
🇫🇯 Fiji
$92.7
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tokyo and in Ba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tokyo and in Ba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,663 in Tokyo versus $92.7 in Ba.

  • Tokyo $1,663
  • Ba $92.7

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,592 in Tokyo versus $207 in Ba.

  • Tokyo $2,592
  • Ba $207

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,521 in Tokyo versus $321 in Ba.

  • Tokyo $3,521
  • Ba $321

Living in Tokyo is roughly 1693% more expensive than in Ba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tokyo is 23% above, Ba is 93% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47 ¥1,180
$2.05 FJD 4.59
264.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.48 ¥5,919
$29.78 FJD 66.7
25.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥773
$6.10 FJD 13.66
-19.67%
Cappuccino
$3.62 ¥571
$1.96 FJD 4.39
84.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ¥262
$0.98 FJD 2.20
69.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥133
$0.98 FJD 2.19
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 ¥582
$3.95 FJD 8.84
-6.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24 ¥828
$3.45 FJD 7.72
51.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 ¥236
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 ¥276
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.63 ¥889
-
-
Eggs
$2.20 ¥348
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 ¥1,767
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 ¥1,081
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.61 ¥2,623
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 ¥758
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 ¥354
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 ¥666
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$5.20 ¥821
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 ¥520
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 ¥481
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ¥188
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥129
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92 ¥619
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.65 ¥1,523
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥258
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 ¥426
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 ¥197
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 ¥10.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 ¥494
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.21 ¥507
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.55 ¥2,930
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ¥166
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ¥3.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K ¥2.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 ¥23.5K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.59 ¥3,410
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.62 ¥4,835
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.7 ¥10.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.58 ¥4,040
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 ¥2,003
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,350 ¥213.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥2.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 ¥8,849
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.14 ¥5,234
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.3 ¥10.1K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2 ¥11.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 ¥197.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$700 ¥110.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,502 ¥395.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,430 ¥225.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,428 ¥1.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,236 ¥669.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Ba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,998 ¥473.5K
$385 FJD 863
677.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.25
4
-43.75%

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

Last update for Tokyo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ba: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
$700
Ba
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
$325
Ba
- * 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
$201
Ba
- * 100%
Eating Out
Tokyo
$157
Ba
$93 40.9% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
$101
Ba
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
$92
Ba
- * 100%
Getting Around
Tokyo
$88
Ba
- * 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Tokyo pays 678% 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 at a mid-range restaurant: $37.00 in Tokyo vs $30.00 in Ba for two.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Tokyo
🇫🇯 Ba
🕒 Local time
04:44 4:44 AM
07:44 7:44 AM
3 h ahead of Tokyo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,613,660 Capital
15,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 177 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.65 EUR).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.51 FJD (1 FJD = 0.399 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tokyo Ba 7,140 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tokyo
  • Ba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tokyo or Ba?
Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 1693% lower than in Tokyo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tokyo or in Ba?
Average pay runs 678% higher in Tokyo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do dining costs compare in Tokyo and in Ba?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $37.00 in Tokyo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Tokyo compared to Ba?
All in, you'll spend $1,663 per month in Tokyo versus $92.7 in Ba – a 1693% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tokyo or in Ba?
At $92.7 in Ba versus $1,663 in Tokyo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Tokyo. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tokyo or Ba?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $92.7 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ba hard to pass up.
How safe is Tokyo compared to Ba?
Safety-wise, Tokyo and Ba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1693% less than in Tokyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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