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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,665 per month in Tokyo vs $1,264 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Tokyo vs $1,901 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,543 per month in Tokyo vs $2,537 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 32% more than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 22% above the global median, while Kashiwa is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 ¥1,183

$6.32 ¥987

19.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.00 ¥6,085

$26.13 ¥4,076

49.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥801

$5.16 ¥805

-0.58%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ¥586

$3.42 ¥534

9.94%

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

$1.67 ¥261

$0.72 ¥112

131.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥139

$0.78 ¥121

14.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.01 ¥625

$2.55 ¥398

57.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 ¥827

$3.22 ¥502

64.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥241

$1.33 ¥208

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥250

$1.15 ¥179

39.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.85 ¥913

$3.77 ¥588

55.17%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥352

$1.96 ¥306

15.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 ¥1,667

$6.63 ¥1,035

61.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 ¥1,190

$6.14 ¥958

24.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 ¥2,966

$9.68 ¥1,510

96.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 ¥771

$5.80 ¥905

-14.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ¥369

$2.90 ¥452

-18.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ¥677

$2.87 ¥449

51.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 ¥859

$4.34 ¥677

26.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ¥526

$2.67 ¥417

26.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 ¥496

$2.62 ¥408

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ¥186

$0.67 ¥104

77.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥135

$0.63 ¥98.4

36.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 ¥621

$3.86 ¥603

3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ¥1,548

$6.52 ¥1,017

52.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥276

$1.79 ¥279

-1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ¥443

$1.95 ¥305

45.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 ¥199

$1.49 ¥232

-14.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.4 ¥11.3K

$57.7 ¥8,997

25.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 ¥499

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 ¥513

$1.65 ¥257

99.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.15 ¥2,988

$21.26 ¥3,317

-9.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥170

$1.02 ¥159

6.86%

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

$22.2K ¥3.5M

$21.6K ¥3.4M

2.74%

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

$15.6K ¥2.4M

$18.4K ¥2.9M

-15.37%

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

$158 ¥24.6K

$130 ¥20.3K

21.28%

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

$22.59 ¥3,525

$24.53 ¥3,828

-7.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.21 ¥4,870

$33.52 ¥5,229

-6.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 ¥10.1K

$59.9 ¥9,352

8.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.99 ¥4,055

Cinema Ticket

$13.04 ¥2,035

$12.93 ¥2,017

0.85%

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

$1,395 ¥217.6K

$660 ¥102.9K

111.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K ¥2.9M

$14.9K ¥2.3M

23.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ¥8,446

$63.4 ¥9,897

-14.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.76 ¥5,267

$33.31 ¥5,198

1.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ¥10.1K

$64.0 ¥9,984

1.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.6 ¥11.3K

$105 ¥16.4K

-30.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 ¥199.5K

$547 ¥85.4K

133.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 ¥107.7K

$405 ¥63.3K

70.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 ¥388.2K

$1,026 ¥160.1K

142.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 ¥221.8K

$762 ¥119.0K

86.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,219 ¥1.4M

$3,743 ¥584.1K

146.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,492 ¥700.8K

$1,764 ¥275.2K

154.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,049 ¥475.8K

$2,681 ¥418.4K

13.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.94

2.12

-8.49%

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

Last update for Tokyo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Tokyo versus $547 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 14% 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 $39.00 in Tokyo versus $26.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $256 – 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: $1,665 in Tokyo, $1,264 in Kashiwa – roughly 32% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,498 per month in Tokyo and $1,897 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 $1,395 per month in Tokyo and $660 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,264, than in Tokyo at $1,665. 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 $1,264 in Kashiwa to $1,665 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.