Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Saitama Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Saitama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,127 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $1,830 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,533 in Saitama, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 51% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 27% above the global median, while Saitama is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,315

$5.87 ¥955

37.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,926

$34.39 ¥5,590

41.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$4.98 ¥810

10.04%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.08 ¥500

16.88%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$0.71 ¥115

78.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.74 ¥121

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.03 ¥329

100.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$3.04 ¥495

78.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.51 ¥245

7.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.66 ¥270

-9.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$2.94 ¥477

81.63%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.23 ¥363

4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,594

$10.20 ¥1,658

56.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$5.91 ¥960

37.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,665

$15.52 ¥2,523

45.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$5.95 ¥968

-7.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$1.34 ¥218

93.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$3.90 ¥634

51.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$5.91 ¥960

2.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$3.24 ¥526

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$1.76 ¥286

92.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.34 ¥218

8.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.81 ¥132

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.06 ¥660

4.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,514

$8.17 ¥1,328

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.77 ¥287

15.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.03 ¥329

41.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.68 ¥273

-11.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.8K

$54.8 ¥8,907

54.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥549

$3.44 ¥558

-1.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.87 ¥466

1.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,265

$21.85 ¥3,552

20.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.18 ¥192

1.69%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

0.28%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$18.2K ¥3.0M

-5.52%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$141 ¥22.9K

18.95%

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

$25.82 ¥4,196

$19.47 ¥3,164

32.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,445

$34.15 ¥5,551

-1.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$69.2 ¥11.2K

2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,290

$13.76 ¥2,236

47.17%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,125

$11.91 ¥1,936

9.74%

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

$495 ¥80.4K

$283 ¥46.1K

74.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

14.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10.0K

$37.81 ¥6,145

62.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,771

$28.07 ¥4,562

48.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$59.9 ¥9,727

10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$68.7 ¥11.2K

32.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$428 ¥69.6K

161.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.6K

$259 ¥42.0K

134.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.6K

$877 ¥142.6K

205.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$656 ¥106.5K

104.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$4,887 ¥794.2K

111.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.3K

$2,152 ¥349.8K

131.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.6K

$1,474 ¥239.6K

58.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.86

-7.53%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Saitama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $428 in Saitama. 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 58% 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 $49.00 in Tokyo versus $34.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $300 – making Saitama 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 Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,552 per month in Tokyo and $1,691 in Saitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 54% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Tokyo and $283 in Saitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Saitama. 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.