😐A single person spends $1,684 per month in Tokyo vs $1,266 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Tokyo vs $1,931 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,703 per month in Tokyo vs $2,595 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐Tokyo costs about 33% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tokyo sits 26% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09¥1,294
$6.85¥1,096
18.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.31¥7,727
$35.02¥5,602
37.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.69¥910
$5.22¥835
9.00%
Cappuccino
$3.57¥571
$3.18¥509
12.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26¥202
$1.09¥175
15.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93¥148
$0.82¥131
13.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.25¥681
$2.57¥411
65.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30¥848
$3.19¥511
66.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58¥252
$1.59¥254
-0.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥254
$1.54¥247
3.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.32¥851
$4.86¥778
9.47%
Eggs
$2.41¥385
$2.29¥366
5.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04¥2,565
$10.07¥1,610
59.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85¥1,255
$6.50¥1,040
20.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.16¥3,704
$15.22¥2,434
52.17%
Apples(1kg)
$5.23¥836
$5.50¥880
-4.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57¥412
$2.54¥407
1.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.73¥917
$3.94¥630
45.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.97¥955
$5.76¥921
3.65%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21¥514
$3.08¥492
4.22%
Onion(1kg)
$3.51¥562
$2.61¥417
34.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48¥236
$1.39¥223
6.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90¥143
$0.83¥133
8.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥684
$4.27¥683
-
Wine(Bottle)
$9.39¥1,501
$8.30¥1,328
13.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15¥343
$1.84¥294
16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88¥461
$2.18¥349
32.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48¥237
$1.59¥255
-6.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9¥13.6K
$56.6¥9,046
50.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49¥559
$3.55¥568
-1.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.87¥458
$2.98¥476
-3.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.77¥4,281
$20.63¥3,300
29.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥195
$1.23¥196
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K¥3.8M
$23.2K¥3.7M
1.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K¥2.8M
$17.1K¥2.7M
1.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164¥26.2K
$142¥22.8K
14.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.63¥4,259
$27.32¥4,370
-2.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94¥5,428
$34.60¥5,534
-1.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0¥11.0K
$55.3¥8,844
24.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.11¥3,217
$13.89¥2,221
44.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.06¥2,088
$12.28¥1,964
6.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$506¥81.0K
$287¥45.9K
76.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K¥2.5M
$13.2K¥2.1M
18.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1¥9,611
$43.93¥7,026
36.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31¥6,448
$29.48¥4,716
36.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7¥10.3K
$60.0¥9,594
7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2¥14.6K
$90.5¥14.5K
0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,094¥175.0K
$471¥75.3K
132.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$596¥95.4K
$327¥52.2K
82.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,609¥417.4K
$865¥138.3K
201.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339¥214.2K
$663¥106.1K
101.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.8K¥1.7M
$5,170¥826.9K
109.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,974¥795.6K
$2,075¥331.8K
139.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,501¥400.1K
-
-
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ichinomiya: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Tokyo versus $471 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 $48.00 in Tokyo versus $35.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 vs $316 – 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 33%, 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 $2,526 per month in Tokyo and $1,900 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 Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Tokyo and $35.00 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 vs Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,684 in Tokyo and $1,266 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 Tokyo or Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Tokyo at $1,684. 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.