Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Ichinomiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Ichinomiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,245 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $1,931 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,618 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 37% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 27% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 ¥1,314
$7.02 ¥1,141
15.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.77 ¥7,923
$33.99 ¥5,522
43.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.48 ¥891
$5.35 ¥869
2.43%
Cappuccino
$3.60 ¥584
$3.08 ¥501
16.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ¥206
$1.10 ¥178
15.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 ¥140
$0.76 ¥123
13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 ¥662
$2.67 ¥434
52.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 ¥883
$3.08 ¥501
76.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 ¥264
$1.60 ¥259
1.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ¥245
$1.58 ¥257
-4.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.34 ¥868
$4.79 ¥778
11.48%
Eggs
$2.32 ¥377
$2.32 ¥377
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.96 ¥2,593
$10.02 ¥1,629
59.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.12 ¥1,319
$6.47 ¥1,052
25.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.55 ¥3,664
$15.58 ¥2,531
44.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.52 ¥897
$5.41 ¥878
2.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 ¥421
$2.56 ¥417
1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.92 ¥962
$4.12 ¥669
43.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.07 ¥987
$5.72 ¥930
6.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 ¥527
$3.03 ¥493
6.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 ¥551
$2.68 ¥435
26.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 ¥235
$1.39 ¥226
4.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥142
$0.82 ¥133
6.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ¥691
$4.25 ¥690
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.31 ¥1,513
$8.16 ¥1,326
14.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥334
$1.85 ¥301
10.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ¥466
$2.27 ¥369
26.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 ¥241
$1.67 ¥272
-11.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.6 ¥13.7K
$55.9 ¥9,082
51.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 ¥548
$3.53 ¥573
-4.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.91 ¥473
$3.01 ¥489
-3.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.24 ¥4,264
$21.02 ¥3,415
24.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ¥195
$1.18 ¥192
1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K ¥3.8M
$23.2K ¥3.8M
1.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥2.8M
$17.5K ¥2.8M
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 ¥27.2K
$146 ¥23.7K
15.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.82 ¥4,195
$27.50 ¥4,468
-6.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50 ¥5,444
$34.08 ¥5,537
-1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.9 ¥11.5K
$55.5 ¥9,014
27.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25 ¥3,289
$13.93 ¥2,263
45.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07 ¥2,124
$12.52 ¥2,035
4.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$495 ¥80.3K
$283 ¥45.9K
75.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ¥2.6M
$13.5K ¥2.2M
16.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5 ¥10,000
$42.60 ¥6,921
44.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.66 ¥6,769
$30.04 ¥4,881
38.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 ¥10.7K
$58.9 ¥9,564
11.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.1 ¥14.8K
$93.4 ¥15.2K
-2.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,120 ¥182.0K
$460 ¥74.7K
143.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 ¥98.5K
$326 ¥53.0K
85.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,680 ¥435.5K
$881 ¥143.1K
204.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 ¥218.0K
$671 ¥109.0K
100.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.4K ¥1.7M
$4,248 ¥690.2K
143.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,986 ¥810.1K
$2,113 ¥343.3K
135.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,330 ¥378.5K
-
-
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 Ichinomiya: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $460 in Ichinomiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Tokyo versus $34.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $317 – making Ichinomiya 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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Tokyo?
Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,552 per month in Tokyo and $1,867 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tokyo or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Tokyo and $34.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tokyo and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,701 in Tokyo and $1,245 in Ichinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tokyo or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,245, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tokyo or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tokyo or Ichinomiya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. 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.

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