Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kitakyushu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Kitakyushu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,665 per month in Tokyo vs $1,233 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Tokyo vs $1,926 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,543 per month in Tokyo vs $2,620 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 35% more than Kitakyushu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 22% above the global median, while Kitakyushu is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 ¥1,184

$7.22 ¥1,128

4.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.00 ¥6,091

$33.59 ¥5,246

16.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥802

$5.55 ¥867

-7.57%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ¥587

$3.37 ¥526

11.57%

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

$1.67 ¥261

$1.04 ¥162

60.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥139

$0.70 ¥109

27.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.01 ¥626

$2.97 ¥463

35.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 ¥828

$2.26 ¥352

134.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥241

$1.53 ¥239

0.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥250

$1.31 ¥204

22.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.85 ¥914

$5.55 ¥867

5.41%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥352

$2.26 ¥354

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 ¥1,669

$9.98 ¥1,559

7.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 ¥1,191

$5.49 ¥857

38.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 ¥2,969

$19.18 ¥2,996

-0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 ¥772

$3.71 ¥579

33.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ¥370

$1.85 ¥289

28.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ¥678

$2.88 ¥450

50.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 ¥860

$2.97 ¥464

85.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ¥527

$2.26 ¥354

49.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 ¥497

$2.60 ¥406

22.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ¥186

$1.09 ¥171

9.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥135

$0.94 ¥147

-8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 ¥622

$4.04 ¥631

-1.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ¥1,549

$6.40 ¥1,000

55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥277

$1.78 ¥278

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ¥444

$1.76 ¥276

61.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 ¥199

$1.64 ¥257

-22.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.4 ¥11.3K

$58.2 ¥9,094

24.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 ¥500

$3.93 ¥614

-18.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 ¥514

$2.06 ¥322

59.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.15 ¥2,991

$18.42 ¥2,876

3.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥170

$1.06 ¥165

2.83%

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

$22.2K ¥3.5M

$21.3K ¥3.3M

4.31%

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

$15.6K ¥2.4M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

-11.71%

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

$158 ¥24.6K

$195 ¥30.5K

-19.30%

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

$22.59 ¥3,529

$25.26 ¥3,944

-10.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.21 ¥4,875

$33.60 ¥5,248

-7.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 ¥10.1K

$52.3 ¥8,171

24.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.99 ¥4,058

$3.15 ¥493

725.08%

Cinema Ticket

$13.04 ¥2,037

$11.52 ¥1,798

13.19%

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

$1,395 ¥217.8K

$389 ¥60.8K

258.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K ¥2.9M

$12.4K ¥1.9M

48.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ¥8,454

$39.38 ¥6,151

37.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.76 ¥5,272

$24.50 ¥3,826

37.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ¥10.2K

$60.7 ¥9,473

7.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.6 ¥11.3K

$48.25 ¥7,535

50.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 ¥199.7K

$520 ¥81.2K

145.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 ¥107.8K

$331 ¥51.7K

108.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 ¥388.5K

$1,049 ¥163.9K

137.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 ¥222.0K

$739 ¥115.4K

92.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,219 ¥1.4M

$3,702 ¥578.1K

149.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,492 ¥701.4K

$1,776 ¥277.3K

152.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,049 ¥476.2K

$1,527 ¥238.4K

99.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.94

1.69

14.79%

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

Last update for Tokyo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kitakyushu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Tokyo versus $520 in Kitakyushu. 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 100% 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 $34.00 in Kitakyushu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $284 – making Kitakyushu 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 Kitakyushu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,665 in Tokyo, $1,233 in Kitakyushu – roughly 35% 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 $1,850 in Kitakyushu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 20% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tokyo and $34.00 in Kitakyushu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitakyushu, where all-in costs run around $1,233, than in Tokyo at $1,665. In Kitakyushu 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 $1,233 in Kitakyushu 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 Kitakyushu. 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.