Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Fukuoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Fukuoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,278 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $2,050 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,822 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 33% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 27% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,314

$8.15 ¥1,324

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,923

$42.01 ¥6,826

16.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$6.24 ¥1,013

-12.18%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.09 ¥503

16.50%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.04 ¥169

22.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.83 ¥134

3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$1.63 ¥265

150.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$2.05 ¥333

165.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.75 ¥284

-7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.58 ¥257

-4.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.25 ¥691

25.65%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.61 ¥424

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,593

$20.67 ¥3,358

-22.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.26 ¥1,017

29.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,664

$20.68 ¥3,361

9.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$3.16 ¥514

74.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$1.41 ¥228

83.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$1.35 ¥220

338.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$5.92 ¥961

2.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$2.85 ¥463

13.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$3.20 ¥521

5.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$0.96 ¥156

51.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.81 ¥131

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$3.82 ¥620

11.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,513

$6.23 ¥1,012

49.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.94 ¥315

5.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.14 ¥348

34.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.77 ¥287

-16.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.7K

$42.36 ¥6,882

99.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥548

$4.75 ¥772

-28.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$4.44 ¥721

-34.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,264

$19.68 ¥3,198

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.23 ¥200

-2.44%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.14%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$19.8K ¥3.2M

-12.94%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$221 ¥35.8K

-23.97%

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

$25.82 ¥4,195

$27.43 ¥4,456

-5.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,444

$35.23 ¥5,724

-4.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$59.9 ¥9,726

18.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,289

$3.54 ¥575

472.03%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,124

$13.83 ¥2,247

-5.50%

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

$495 ¥80.3K

$411 ¥66.7K

20.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$13.3K ¥2.2M

18.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10,000

$44.09 ¥7,164

39.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,769

$30.00 ¥4,874

38.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$66.8 ¥10.8K

-1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$60.2 ¥9,775

51.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$537 ¥87.2K

108.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.5K

$295 ¥47.9K

105.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.5K

$1,043 ¥169.4K

157.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$692 ¥112.5K

93.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$6,287 ¥1.0M

64.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.1K

$2,625 ¥426.4K

89.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.5K

$1,518 ¥246.6K

53.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.67

2.99%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $537 in Fukuoka. 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 54% 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 $42.00 in Fukuoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $330 – making Fukuoka 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 Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo, $1,278 in Fukuoka – roughly 33% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,552 per month in Tokyo and $1,917 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Tokyo and $411 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Fukuoka to $1,701 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 Fukuoka. 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.