😐A single person spends $1,653 per month in Tokyo vs $1,175 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Tokyo vs $1,883 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,517 per month in Tokyo vs $2,591 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐Tokyo costs about 41% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tokyo sits 20% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31¥1,142
$6.87¥1,073
6.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.11¥5,798
$33.42¥5,221
11.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98¥777
$5.58¥871
-10.75%
Cappuccino
$3.65¥570
$2.83¥443
28.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69¥263
$1.12¥174
50.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92¥144
$0.81¥127
13.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65¥570
$2.87¥448
27.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06¥791
$2.78¥435
82.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55¥243
$1.32¥207
17.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72¥269
$1.69¥264
1.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.92¥925
$3.86¥603
53.37%
Eggs
$2.23¥349
$2.24¥350
-0.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.36¥1,775
$11.02¥1,722
3.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.67¥1,199
$6.28¥981
22.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.11¥3,142
$14.81¥2,313
35.79%
Apples(1kg)
$5.18¥809
$4.37¥682
18.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51¥393
$2.14¥334
17.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.64¥725
$3.19¥498
45.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.91¥923
$3.67¥573
61.04%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54¥553
$2.41¥377
46.89%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44¥538
$2.60¥406
32.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22¥190
$1.21¥189
0.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥134
$0.87¥136
-1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97¥621
$4.37¥683
-9.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53¥1,489
$7.49¥1,170
27.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78¥278
$1.77¥276
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03¥474
$2.30¥360
31.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23¥192
$1.26¥197
-2.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.6¥10.6K
$48.36¥7,555
39.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16¥494
$2.83¥443
11.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.04¥475
$2.90¥453
4.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.14¥2,834
$20.54¥3,208
-11.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04¥162
$1.22¥191
-14.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K¥3.4M
$22.1K¥3.5M
-1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7K¥2.3M
$16.5K¥2.6M
-11.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157¥24.5K
$129¥20.2K
21.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.07¥3,448
$22.19¥3,466
-0.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.21¥4,720
$33.71¥5,267
-10.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.5¥9,770
$55.0¥8,598
13.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.32¥3,955
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.30¥1,921
$13.66¥2,134
-9.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,300¥203.0K
$513¥80.1K
153.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K¥2.8M
$11.5K¥1.8M
54.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2¥8,000
$43.38¥6,777
18.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35¥5,054
$28.26¥4,414
14.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.6¥9,777
$52.8¥8,252
18.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.6¥11.6K
$87.5¥13.7K
-14.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,230¥192.2K
$400¥62.5K
207.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660¥103.0K
$316¥49.3K
108.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,368¥369.9K
$1,070¥167.1K
121.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,357¥212.1K
$764¥119.3K
77.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,747¥1.4M
$4,835¥755.4K
80.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,944¥616.2K
$2,162¥337.7K
82.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,843¥444.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.93
2.06
-6.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tokyo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ichinomiya: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,230 in Tokyo versus $400 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 $37.00 in Tokyo versus $33.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $285 – 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 41%, 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 $2,480 per month in Tokyo and $1,762 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 $37.00 in Tokyo and $33.00 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 $1,653 in Tokyo and $1,175 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 $1,175, than in Tokyo at $1,653. 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.