Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,701 per month in Tokyo vs $1,440 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,691 per month in Tokyo vs $2,182 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Tokyo vs $2,924 in Yokohama, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 18% more than Yokohama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tokyo and Yokohama sit above the global median – Tokyo by 27%, Yokohama by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,314

$7.13 ¥1,158

13.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,923

$41.15 ¥6,685

18.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$5.57 ¥905

-1.62%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.20 ¥519

12.50%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.17 ¥189

8.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.81 ¥132

6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.11 ¥342

93.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$3.08 ¥500

76.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.56 ¥254

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.67 ¥271

-9.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.99 ¥811

7.01%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.27 ¥369

2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,593

$10.18 ¥1,654

56.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.20 ¥1,007

30.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,664

$15.62 ¥2,537

44.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$6.09 ¥989

-9.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$3.10 ¥504

-16.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$3.94 ¥640

50.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$6.06 ¥985

0.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$3.39 ¥551

-4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$4.25 ¥690

-20.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.33 ¥216

9.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.88 ¥143

-1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.11 ¥667

3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,513

$7.15 ¥1,162

30.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$1.81 ¥295

13.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.06 ¥334

39.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.54 ¥250

-3.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.7K

$54.4 ¥8,839

55.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥548

$3.38 ¥550

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.63 ¥427

10.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,264

$21.83 ¥3,547

20.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.23 ¥201

-2.44%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.4K ¥3.8M

0.67%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$18.2K ¥3.0M

-5.44%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$144 ¥23.4K

16.61%

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

$25.82 ¥4,195

$27.88 ¥4,530

-7.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,444

$33.38 ¥5,423

0.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$54.9 ¥8,911

29.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,289

$13.72 ¥2,230

47.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,124

$13.92 ¥2,261

-6.11%

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

$495 ¥80.3K

$285 ¥46.2K

73.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$13.7K ¥2.2M

14.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10,000

$41.99 ¥6,822

46.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,769

$29.44 ¥4,783

41.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$59.1 ¥9,608

11.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$109 ¥17.8K

-16.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$827 ¥134.4K

35.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.5K

$475 ¥77.2K

27.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.5K

$1,268 ¥206.1K

111.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$834 ¥135.5K

60.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$6,106 ¥992.0K

69.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.1K

$4,409 ¥716.3K

13.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.5K

$2,612 ¥424.4K

-10.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

2.05

-16.10%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,120 in Tokyo versus $827 in Yokohama. 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 12% higher in Yokohama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Tokyo versus $41.00 in Yokohama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $327 – making Yokohama 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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo, $1,440 in Yokohama – roughly 18% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,552 per month in Tokyo and $2,160 in Yokohama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Tokyo and $41.00 in Yokohama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yokohama, where all-in costs run around $1,440, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Yokohama 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 $1,440 in Yokohama to $1,701 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 Yokohama. 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.