Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Takamatsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Takamatsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo versus $1,249 in Takamatsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,691 in Tokyo versus $1,929 in Takamatsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,682 in Tokyo versus $2,609 in Takamatsu.

Living in Tokyo is roughly 36% more expensive than in Takamatsu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tokyo is 27% above, Takamatsu is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,314

$6.94 ¥1,128

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,923

$34.60 ¥5,621

40.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$5.24 ¥851

4.58%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.09 ¥501

16.50%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.06 ¥171

19.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.76 ¥124

13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.59 ¥420

57.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$3.10 ¥504

75.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.64 ¥266

-1.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.59 ¥259

-5.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$1.96 ¥318

172.45%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.46 ¥400

-5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,593

$10.07 ¥1,636

58.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.30 ¥1,024

28.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,664

$15.72 ¥2,554

43.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$5.31 ¥863

3.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$2.60 ¥422

-0.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$3.94 ¥640

50.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$5.84 ¥948

3.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$3.05 ¥496

6.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$2.56 ¥417

32.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.38 ¥225

5.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.89 ¥144

-2.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.13 ¥671

2.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,513

$7.94 ¥1,289

17.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.89 ¥307

8.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.24 ¥364

28.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.67 ¥271

-11.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.7K

$55.9 ¥9,081

51.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥548

$3.49 ¥568

-3.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$3.00 ¥488

-3.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,264

$21.05 ¥3,420

24.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.18 ¥191

1.69%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

3.22%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

-0.26%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$144 ¥23.4K

16.22%

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

$25.82 ¥4,195

$27.09 ¥4,401

-4.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,444

$33.52 ¥5,446

-0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$55.5 ¥9,009

27.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,289

$13.63 ¥2,215

48.57%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,124

$12.26 ¥1,992

6.61%

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

$495 ¥80.3K

$285 ¥46.3K

73.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

18.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10,000

$42.93 ¥6,975

43.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,769

$29.82 ¥4,845

39.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$59.8 ¥9,709

10.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$92.2 ¥15.0K

-1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$466 ¥75.8K

140.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.5K

$330 ¥53.5K

84.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.5K

$856 ¥139.1K

213.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$647 ¥105.2K

107.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$3,934 ¥639.2K

163.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.1K

$1,997 ¥324.5K

149.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.5K

$1,719 ¥279.2K

35.54%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Takamatsu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,120 in Tokyo and $466 in Takamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tokyo pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Tokyo vs $35.00 in Takamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $306 per month, with Takamatsu cheaper across the board.

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 Takamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tokyo and Takamatsu differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,701 vs $1,249 including rent). Takamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Tokyo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,120 in Tokyo versus $466 in Takamatsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Takamatsu runs roughly 51% less than in Tokyo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $495 in Tokyo versus $285 in Takamatsu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,249 in Takamatsu versus $1,701 in Tokyo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Tokyo. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tokyo and Takamatsu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Tokyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.