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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,653 per month in Tokyo vs $983 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Tokyo vs $1,315 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,517 per month in Tokyo vs $1,646 in Saitama, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 68% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 20% above the global median, while Saitama is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ¥1,137

$5.61 ¥872

30.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.11 ¥5,776

$30.87 ¥4,804

20.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥774

$4.75 ¥739

4.84%

Cappuccino

$3.65 ¥567

$2.98 ¥464

22.48%

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

$1.69 ¥262

$0.71 ¥111

138.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥144

$0.59 ¥92.2

55.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 ¥568

$2.48 ¥386

47.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 ¥788

$3.08 ¥480

64.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ¥242

$1.41 ¥220

9.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 ¥268

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.92 ¥922

$2.77 ¥432

113.72%

Eggs

$2.23 ¥347

$1.97 ¥307

13.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 ¥1,769

$11.85 ¥1,844

-4.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 ¥1,194

$5.34 ¥831

43.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.11 ¥3,130

$14.55 ¥2,265

38.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 ¥806

$5.55 ¥864

-6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ¥391

$2.20 ¥343

14.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 ¥722

$2.77 ¥431

67.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.91 ¥920

$4.06 ¥633

45.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ¥551

$2.51 ¥391

41.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ¥536

$1.54 ¥239

123.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ¥189

$1.26 ¥196

-3.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥133

$0.72 ¥112

19.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ¥618

$3.69 ¥574

7.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.53 ¥1,484

$6.35 ¥989

50.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ¥277

$1.72 ¥268

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ¥472

$1.99 ¥310

52.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 ¥191

$3.35 ¥521

-63.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ¥10.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 ¥492

$3.11 ¥485

1.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 ¥473

$2.46 ¥382

23.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.14 ¥2,824

$20.32 ¥3,163

-10.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ¥162

$1.05 ¥164

-0.95%

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

$21.7K ¥3.4M

$21.6K ¥3.4M

0.63%

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

$14.7K ¥2.3M

$14.5K ¥2.3M

1.78%

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

$157 ¥24.4K

$131 ¥20.4K

19.86%

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

$22.07 ¥3,435

$17.94 ¥2,792

23.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.21 ¥4,702

$31.96 ¥4,974

-5.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 ¥9,734

$61.9 ¥9,629

1.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.32 ¥3,941

Cinema Ticket

$12.30 ¥1,914

$10.82 ¥1,683

13.68%

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

$1,300 ¥202.3K

$633 ¥98.6K

105.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K ¥2.8M

$14.4K ¥2.2M

22.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 ¥7,970

$34.98 ¥5,444

46.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 ¥5,035

$24.53 ¥3,818

31.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 ¥9,740

$55.4 ¥8,622

12.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.6 ¥11.6K

$61.4 ¥9,560

21.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 ¥191.5K

$409 ¥63.7K

200.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ¥102.7K

$226 ¥35.1K

192.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,368 ¥368.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 ¥211.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,747 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,944 ¥613.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,843 ¥442.5K

$1,517 ¥236.1K

87.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.93

2.06

-6.31%

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

Last update for Tokyo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,230 in Tokyo versus $409 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 87% 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 $37.00 in Tokyo versus $31.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $278 – 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 68%, 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 $2,480 per month in Tokyo and $1,475 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,653 in Tokyo and $983 in Saitama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,300 per month in Tokyo and $633 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 $983, than in Tokyo at $1,653. 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.