Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kashiwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kashiwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,332 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $1,855 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,378 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 28% more than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tokyo and Kashiwa sit above the global median – Tokyo by 27%, Kashiwa by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,315

$7.00 ¥1,138

15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,926

$27.50 ¥4,470

77.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$5.68 ¥923

-3.52%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.08 ¥500

16.88%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$0.82 ¥133

54.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.74 ¥121

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.03 ¥330

100.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$2.69 ¥437

102.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.27 ¥207

27.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.08 ¥176

39.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.98 ¥809

7.23%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.03 ¥330

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,594

$6.91 ¥1,123

130.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.22 ¥1,012

30.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,665

$10.45 ¥1,699

115.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$4.91 ¥798

12.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$2.72 ¥442

-4.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$4.11 ¥668

44.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$6.12 ¥995

-0.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$2.74 ¥445

18.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$2.31 ¥376

46.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$0.67 ¥110

116.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.53 ¥85.6

64.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.04 ¥656

5.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,514

$9.02 ¥1,466

3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.76 ¥286

16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.07 ¥336

38.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.57 ¥255

-5.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.8K

$56.4 ¥9,160

50.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥549

$3.51 ¥570

-3.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.27 ¥369

28.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,265

$22.36 ¥3,633

17.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.19 ¥194

0.84%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.08%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$18.3K ¥3.0M

-6.24%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$144 ¥23.4K

16.45%

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

$25.82 ¥4,196

$27.82 ¥4,522

-7.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,445

$34.22 ¥5,562

-2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$54.9 ¥8,917

29.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,290

$14.08 ¥2,289

43.82%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,125

$13.53 ¥2,199

-3.40%

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

$495 ¥80.4K

$281 ¥45.7K

75.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$14.1K ¥2.3M

11.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10.0K

$40.93 ¥6,653

50.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,771

$29.62 ¥4,814

40.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$58.9 ¥9,572

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$112 ¥18.2K

-18.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$637 ¥103.5K

75.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.6K

$446 ¥72.4K

36.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.6K

$841 ¥136.7K

218.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$524 ¥85.1K

156.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$4,375 ¥711.0K

136.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.3K

$2,349 ¥381.7K

112.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.6K

$2,402 ¥390.4K

-3.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

2.05

-16.10%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $637 in Kashiwa. 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 3% higher in Kashiwa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Tokyo versus $28.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $276 – making Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo, $1,332 in Kashiwa – roughly 28% 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 $1,998 in Kashiwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Tokyo and $281 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Tokyo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kashiwa, where all-in costs run around $1,332, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Kashiwa 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 $1,332 in Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa. 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.