Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and MaebashiCost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Maebashi
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,684 per month in Tokyo vs $1,300 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Tokyo vs $2,030 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,703 per month in Tokyo vs $2,760 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐Tokyo costs about 30% more than Maebashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Tokyo sits 26% above the global median, while Maebashi is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09¥1,294
$4.99¥798
62.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.31¥7,727
$35.13¥5,619
37.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.69¥910
$5.79¥926
-1.73%
Cappuccino
$3.57¥571
$2.98¥477
19.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26¥202
$0.80¥128
57.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93¥148
$0.68¥109
36.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.25¥681
$2.36¥377
80.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30¥848
$3.20¥513
65.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58¥252
$1.41¥225
12.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥254
$1.74¥278
-8.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.32¥851
$1.42¥227
274.65%
Eggs
$2.41¥385
$1.78¥285
35.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04¥2,565
$17.00¥2,719
-5.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85¥1,255
$5.11¥817
53.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.16¥3,704
$15.49¥2,477
49.52%
Apples(1kg)
$5.23¥836
$8.97¥1,435
-41.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57¥412
$2.76¥442
-6.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.73¥917
$4.79¥767
19.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.97¥955
$9.77¥1,562
-38.89%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21¥514
$4.00¥640
-19.75%
Onion(1kg)
$3.51¥562
$2.58¥412
36.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48¥236
$1.33¥213
11.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90¥143
$0.54¥86.3
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥684
$3.46¥553
23.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.39¥1,501
$9.61¥1,536
-2.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15¥343
$2.85¥456
-24.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88¥461
$2.29¥366
25.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48¥237
$1.65¥264
-10.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9¥13.6K
$54.4¥8,708
55.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49¥559
$3.51¥561
-0.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.87¥458
$2.98¥477
-3.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.77¥4,281
$34.41¥5,503
-22.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥195
$1.17¥187
4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K¥3.8M
$23.1K¥3.7M
1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K¥2.8M
$16.7K¥2.7M
4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164¥26.2K
$138¥22.1K
18.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.63¥4,259
$26.89¥4,301
-0.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94¥5,428
$33.74¥5,397
0.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0¥11.0K
$55.2¥8,826
24.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.11¥3,217
$13.95¥2,231
44.16%
Cinema Ticket
$13.06¥2,088
$12.25¥1,959
6.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$506¥81.0K
$474¥75.8K
6.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K¥2.5M
$11.1K¥1.8M
41.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1¥9,611
$46.31¥7,407
29.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31¥6,448
$32.09¥5,133
25.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7¥10.3K
$56.5¥9,041
14.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2¥14.6K
$92.7¥14.8K
-1.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,094¥175.0K
$462¥73.8K
136.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$596¥95.4K
$327¥52.3K
82.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,609¥417.4K
$861¥137.7K
203.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339¥214.2K
$652¥104.4K
105.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.8K¥1.7M
$4,596¥735.1K
135.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,974¥795.6K
$2,516¥402.4K
97.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,501¥400.1K
$1,715¥274.2K
45.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.72
1.78
-3.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tokyo: May 30, 2026
Last update for Maebashi: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Tokyo versus $462 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 46% 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 $48.00 in Tokyo versus $35.00 in Maebashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 vs $364 – making Maebashi 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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maebashi cheaper than Tokyo?
Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 30%, 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 $2,526 per month in Tokyo and $1,950 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 Maebashi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Tokyo and $35.00 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 vs Maebashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,684 in Tokyo and $1,300 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 Tokyo or Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maebashi, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Tokyo at $1,684. 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.