Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Shiga Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Shiga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,714 per month in Tokyo vs $1,205 in Shiga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,739 per month in Tokyo vs $1,868 in Shiga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,765 per month in Tokyo vs $2,530 in Shiga, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 42% more than Shiga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 28% above the global median, while Shiga is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 ¥1,354

$6.80 ¥1,087

24.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.34 ¥7,892

$34.05 ¥5,446

44.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ¥907

$4.96 ¥793

14.31%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥576

$2.70 ¥431

33.33%

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

$1.25 ¥200

$1.09 ¥175

14.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥139

$0.76 ¥122

14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 ¥681

$2.78 ¥445

53.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 ¥843

$4.23 ¥677

24.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥261

$1.31 ¥209

24.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ¥244

$1.41 ¥226

7.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.56 ¥889

$4.04 ¥646

37.62%

Eggs

$2.34 ¥374

$2.44 ¥390

-4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ¥2,541

$10.61 ¥1,697

49.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 ¥1,244

$6.46 ¥1,034

20.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.52 ¥3,602

$19.01 ¥3,040

18.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 ¥855

$3.66 ¥585

46.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ¥424

$2.09 ¥334

26.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 ¥935

$2.61 ¥417

123.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.04 ¥967

$4.34 ¥694

39.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 ¥517

$1.66 ¥265

94.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ¥534

$1.29 ¥207

158.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 ¥239

$1.32 ¥212

12.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥148

$0.89 ¥142

3.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ¥672

$3.97 ¥635

5.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,460

$9.23 ¥1,477

-1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥332

$2.11 ¥338

-1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ¥474

$2.97 ¥475

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ¥225

$1.67 ¥266

-15.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.9 ¥13.1K

$55.4 ¥8,858

47.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ¥560

$4.56 ¥730

-23.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.01 ¥481

$3.32 ¥531

-9.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.66 ¥4,264

$23.32 ¥3,730

14.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥200

$1.16 ¥185

7.76%

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

$23.0K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

1.07%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

1.40%

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

$167 ¥26.7K

$134 ¥21.5K

24.47%

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

$26.17 ¥4,186

$27.40 ¥4,382

-4.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.97 ¥5,434

$30.82 ¥4,929

10.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.3 ¥11.1K

$56.2 ¥8,987

23.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.10 ¥3,215

$13.92 ¥2,227

44.40%

Cinema Ticket

$13.09 ¥2,094

$12.63 ¥2,020

3.64%

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

$512 ¥81.8K

$69.5 ¥11.1K

636.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ¥2.5M

$10.2K ¥1.6M

52.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ¥9,846

$44.76 ¥7,159

37.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.45 ¥6,470

$29.23 ¥4,674

38.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 ¥10.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.6 ¥14.5K

$96.4 ¥15.4K

-6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ¥178.8K

$466 ¥74.5K

140.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ¥94.9K

$324 ¥51.9K

83.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,691 ¥430.4K

$854 ¥136.5K

215.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 ¥213.5K

$651 ¥104.2K

104.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K ¥1.7M

$4,201 ¥671.9K

155.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,981 ¥796.6K

$2,670 ¥427.0K

86.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,491 ¥398.3K

$1,176 ¥188.1K

111.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.81

-4.97%

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

Last update for Tokyo: June 8, 2026

Last update for Shiga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,118 in Tokyo versus $466 in Shiga. 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 112% 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 Shiga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 vs $296 – making Shiga 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 Shiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,714 in Tokyo, $1,205 in Shiga – roughly 42% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,571 per month in Tokyo and $1,808 in Shiga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $512 per month in Tokyo and $69.5 in Shiga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shiga, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Tokyo at $1,714. In Shiga 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 $1,205 in Shiga to $1,714 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 Shiga. 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.