Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kanazawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kanazawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,221 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $1,904 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,587 in Kanazawa, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 39% more than Kanazawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 27% above the global median, while Kanazawa is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,314

$5.66 ¥920

42.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,923

$34.17 ¥5,551

42.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$4.91 ¥799

11.61%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.24 ¥526

11.11%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.13 ¥184

12.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.71 ¥116

21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.82 ¥458

44.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$4.38 ¥712

24.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.53 ¥249

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.48 ¥241

2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.65 ¥755

14.84%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.44 ¥397

-4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,593

$10.48 ¥1,703

52.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.45 ¥1,048

25.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,664

$19.08 ¥3,101

18.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$3.65 ¥593

51.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$2.21 ¥359

17.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$2.47 ¥401

139.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$4.46 ¥724

36.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$1.70 ¥277

90.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$1.29 ¥210

162.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.34 ¥217

8.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.82 ¥133

6.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$3.96 ¥644

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,513

$9.50 ¥1,543

-2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$2.13 ¥347

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.89 ¥469

-0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.67 ¥271

-11.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.7K

$55.8 ¥9,073

51.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥548

$4.58 ¥744

-26.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$3.31 ¥537

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,264

$23.59 ¥3,832

11.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.18 ¥191

1.69%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

0.48%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$16.7K ¥2.7M

3.06%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$130 ¥21.2K

28.77%

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

$25.82 ¥4,195

$27.23 ¥4,424

-5.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,444

$29.98 ¥4,870

11.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$46.98 ¥7,633

50.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,289

$13.71 ¥2,227

47.70%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,124

$12.42 ¥2,018

5.23%

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

$495 ¥80.3K

$69.4 ¥11.3K

612.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$10.3K ¥1.7M

51.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10,000

$44.17 ¥7,176

39.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,769

$29.41 ¥4,778

41.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$66.9 ¥10.9K

-1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$97.0 ¥15.8K

-6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$462 ¥75.0K

142.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.5K

$336 ¥54.6K

80.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.5K

$866 ¥140.7K

209.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$655 ¥106.4K

104.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$4,777 ¥776.1K

116.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.1K

$2,341 ¥380.4K

112.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.5K

$1,882 ¥305.8K

23.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.81

-4.97%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kanazawa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $462 in Kanazawa. 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 24% 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 $34.00 in Kanazawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $301 – making Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo, $1,221 in Kanazawa – roughly 39% 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 $1,831 in Kanazawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,701 in Tokyo and $1,221 in Kanazawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tokyo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa. 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.