Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Maebashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Maebashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,665 per month in Tokyo vs $1,231 in Maebashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Tokyo vs $1,977 in Maebashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,543 per month in Tokyo vs $2,724 in Maebashi, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 35% more than Maebashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 ¥1,184
$4.62 ¥722
64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.00 ¥6,091
$32.93 ¥5,142
18.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ¥802
$5.09 ¥795
0.79%
Cappuccino
$3.76 ¥587
$2.54 ¥396
48.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥261
$0.80 ¥124
108.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 ¥139
$0.62 ¥97.3
43.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 ¥626
$2.32 ¥363
72.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30 ¥828
$3.21 ¥501
65.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ¥241
$1.25 ¥196
23.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ¥250
$1.58 ¥248
1.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.85 ¥914
$1.34 ¥209
336.57%
Eggs
$2.26 ¥352
$1.74 ¥271
29.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.69 ¥1,669
$15.98 ¥2,495
-33.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.62 ¥1,191
$4.73 ¥739
61.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 ¥2,969
$17.92 ¥2,799
6.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 ¥772
$8.39 ¥1,310
-41.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 ¥370
$3.09 ¥483
-23.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 ¥678
$5.17 ¥807
-16.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.50 ¥860
$8.13 ¥1,269
-32.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.37 ¥527
$4.12 ¥643
-18.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 ¥497
$4.81 ¥751
-33.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ¥186
$1.20 ¥188
-0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 ¥135
$0.47 ¥73.7
82.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 ¥622
$4.00 ¥625
-0.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.92 ¥1,549
$9.45 ¥1,476
4.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ¥277
$2.57 ¥401
-31.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ¥444
$2.15 ¥336
32.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 ¥199
$1.52 ¥238
-16.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.4 ¥11.3K
$57.5 ¥8,982
25.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 ¥500
$3.26 ¥510
-1.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.29 ¥514
$2.88 ¥449
14.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.15 ¥2,991
$32.52 ¥5,079
-41.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥170
$1.08 ¥168
0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K ¥3.5M
$22.6K ¥3.5M
-1.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥2.4M
$15.8K ¥2.5M
-1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 ¥24.6K
$121 ¥18.9K
30.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.59 ¥3,529
$24.14 ¥3,770
-6.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.21 ¥4,875
$32.52 ¥5,078
-4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.0 ¥10.1K
$52.9 ¥8,267
22.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.99 ¥4,058
$32.80 ¥5,123
-20.76%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04 ¥2,037
$11.57 ¥1,807
12.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,395 ¥217.8K
$594 ¥92.7K
134.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K ¥2.9M
$14.8K ¥2.3M
24.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 ¥8,454
$51.6 ¥8,060
4.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.76 ¥5,272
$36.55 ¥5,708
-7.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.0 ¥10.2K
$63.1 ¥9,850
3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6 ¥11.3K
$99.1 ¥15.5K
-26.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 ¥199.7K
$518 ¥81.0K
146.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$690 ¥107.8K
$333 ¥51.9K
107.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,488 ¥388.5K
$1,041 ¥162.6K
138.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,421 ¥222.0K
$745 ¥116.4K
90.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,219 ¥1.4M
$3,352 ¥523.5K
175.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,492 ¥701.4K
$1,861 ¥290.7K
141.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,049 ¥476.2K
$1,757 ¥274.3K
73.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.94
1.66
16.87%

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

Last update for Tokyo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Maebashi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Tokyo versus $518 in Maebashi. 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 74% 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 $33.00 in Maebashi. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Tokyo vs $356 in Maebashi – so Tokyo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maebashi cheaper than Tokyo?
Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,498 per month in Tokyo and $1,846 in Maebashi. 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 Maebashi, 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 Maebashi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tokyo and $33.00 in Maebashi. 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 Maebashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,665 in Tokyo and $1,231 in Maebashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tokyo or in Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maebashi, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Tokyo at $1,665. In Maebashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tokyo or Maebashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maebashi – 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 Maebashi?
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 Maebashi. 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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