Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Ichinomiya

For one person, living is cheaper in Ichinomiya: $1,196 a month against $1,648 in Tokyo, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tokyo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,648
/mo nomad
Ichinomiya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,196
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tokyo and in Ichinomiya

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 Ichinomiya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Tokyo vs $1,196 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Tokyo $1,648
  • Ichinomiya $1,196

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Tokyo vs $1,897 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Tokyo $2,604
  • Ichinomiya $1,897

A family of three spends $3,561 per month in Tokyo vs $2,598 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Tokyo $3,561
  • Ichinomiya $2,598

Tokyo costs about 38% more than Ichinomiya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tokyo sits 22% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.79 ¥1,230
$6.44 ¥1,017
20.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.57 ¥6,094
$32.13 ¥5,076
20.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.99 ¥788
$5.11 ¥807
-2.35%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥565
$3.01 ¥475
18.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ¥249
$1.24 ¥197
26.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ¥142
$0.76 ¥120
18.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 ¥593
$2.60 ¥411
44.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 ¥825
$3.09 ¥489
68.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ¥246
$1.53 ¥242
1.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 ¥277
$1.61 ¥254
8.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.56 ¥879
$4.16 ¥658
33.65%
Eggs
$2.25 ¥355
$2.08 ¥329
8.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.31 ¥1,787
$10.51 ¥1,660
7.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ¥1,068
$6.69 ¥1,057
1.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 ¥2,658
$16.72 ¥2,642
0.66%
Apples (1kg)
$4.66 ¥736
$3.81 ¥601
22.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 ¥359
$2.26 ¥357
0.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 ¥683
$2.93 ¥463
47.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.23 ¥826
$4.14 ¥654
26.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 ¥526
$2.37 ¥375
40.51%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 ¥474
$2.53 ¥400
18.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ¥183
$1.23 ¥194
-5.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥130
$0.81 ¥127
2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88 ¥613
$3.85 ¥608
0.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.53 ¥1,506
$6.56 ¥1,037
45.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥257
$1.85 ¥293
-11.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 ¥414
$2.11 ¥333
24.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ¥193
$1.45 ¥229
-15.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.3 ¥9,848
$53.3 ¥8,427
16.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 ¥505
$3.20 ¥505
-0.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 ¥489
$2.80 ¥442
10.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.70 ¥2,954
$18.90 ¥2,986
-1.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥175
$1.11 ¥175
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K ¥3.5M
$21.5K ¥3.4M
2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥2.4M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 ¥23.4K
$133 ¥21.0K
11.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.75 ¥3,594
$23.86 ¥3,770
-4.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.86 ¥4,717
$31.37 ¥4,956
-4.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.5 ¥10.4K
$53.0 ¥8,371
23.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.19 ¥4,137
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.22 ¥2,089
$11.75 ¥1,856
12.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,314 ¥207.6K
$519 ¥82.0K
153.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥2.8M
$12.6K ¥2.0M
42.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 ¥8,584
$50.3 ¥7,940
8.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73 ¥5,172
$31.15 ¥4,921
5.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.4 ¥10.3K
$61.6 ¥9,724
6.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ¥11.2K
$88.1 ¥13.9K
-19.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,288 ¥203.4K
$528 ¥83.5K
143.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 ¥108.1K
$331 ¥52.3K
106.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,507 ¥396.1K
$1,094 ¥172.8K
129.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 ¥230.6K
$747 ¥118.0K
95.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,204 ¥1.5M
$4,154 ¥656.4K
121.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,226 ¥667.6K
$1,788 ¥282.5K
136.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,994 ¥473.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.25
2.21
1.81%

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

Last update for Tokyo: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ichinomiya: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
$684
Ichinomiya
$331 51.6% $353
Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
$326
Ichinomiya
$290 11% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
$201
Ichinomiya
$188 6.2% $13
Eating Out
Tokyo
$159
Ichinomiya
$130 18.3% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
$100
Ichinomiya
$104 3.6% $3.6
Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
$92
Ichinomiya
$76 16.8% $15
Getting Around
Tokyo
$86
Ichinomiya
$76 11.1% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,288 in Tokyo versus $528 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 $39.00 in Tokyo versus $32.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $290 – making Ichinomiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Tokyo
🇯🇵 Ichinomiya
🕒 Local time
08:17 8:17 AM
08:17 8:17 AM
Same time as Tokyo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,613,660 Capital
379,728
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tokyo Ichinomiya 270 km
From you
  • Tokyo
  • Ichinomiya

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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Tokyo?
Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,473 per month in Tokyo and $1,794 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 $39.00 in Tokyo and $32.00 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 $1,648 in Tokyo and $1,196 in Ichinomiya. That's a gap of about 38%.
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 $1,196, than in Tokyo at $1,648. 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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