Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,344 per month in Wakayama vs $1,684 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,118 per month in Wakayama vs $2,693 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,893 per month in Wakayama vs $3,703 in Tokyo, rent included.

Wakayama is about 20% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Wakayama and Tokyo sit above the global median – Wakayama by 0%, Tokyo by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.98 ¥1,116

$8.09 ¥1,294

-13.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.10 ¥5,614

$48.31 ¥7,727

-27.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 ¥1,003

$5.69 ¥910

10.19%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥491

$3.57 ¥571

-14.01%

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

$1.19 ¥191

$1.26 ¥202

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.93 ¥148

-18.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥541

$4.25 ¥681

-20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥329

$5.30 ¥848

-61.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ¥270

$1.58 ¥252

6.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥288

$1.59 ¥254

13.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥817

$5.32 ¥851

-4.14%

Eggs

$2.55 ¥408

$2.41 ¥385

5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 ¥2,756

$16.04 ¥2,565

7.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 ¥1,189

$7.85 ¥1,255

-5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 ¥2,439

$23.16 ¥3,704

-34.15%

Apples (1kg)

$8.90 ¥1,424

$5.23 ¥836

70.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 ¥448

$2.57 ¥412

8.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 ¥781

$5.73 ¥917

-14.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.57 ¥1,531

$5.97 ¥955

60.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ¥638

$3.21 ¥514

24.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ¥417

$3.51 ¥562

-25.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.48 ¥236

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ¥224

$0.90 ¥143

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ¥553

$4.27 ¥684

-18.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ¥1,467

$9.39 ¥1,501

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ¥458

$2.15 ¥343

33.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥363

$2.88 ¥461

-21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 ¥266

$1.48 ¥237

12.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,800

$84.9 ¥13.6K

-35.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 ¥548

$3.49 ¥559

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 ¥472

$2.87 ¥458

2.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.57 ¥2,810

$26.77 ¥4,281

-34.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.22 ¥195

1.64%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-1.36%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-2.82%

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

$138 ¥22.1K

$164 ¥26.2K

-15.35%

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

$26.81 ¥4,289

$26.63 ¥4,259

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.21 ¥5,472

$33.94 ¥5,428

0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ¥8,938

$69.0 ¥11.0K

-18.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ¥2,183

$20.11 ¥3,217

-32.12%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 ¥1,994

$13.06 ¥2,088

-4.52%

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

$474 ¥75.8K

$506 ¥81.0K

-6.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ¥1.8M

$15.7K ¥2.5M

-27.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,488

$60.1 ¥9,611

-22.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.66 ¥5,224

$40.31 ¥6,448

-18.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$64.7 ¥10.3K

-13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.6K

$91.2 ¥14.6K

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ¥73.9K

$1,094 ¥175.0K

-57.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ¥52.0K

$596 ¥95.4K

-45.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ¥137.4K

$2,609 ¥417.4K

-67.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 ¥104.3K

$1,339 ¥214.2K

-51.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,458 ¥713.1K

$10.8K ¥1.7M

-58.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,039 ¥326.2K

$4,974 ¥795.6K

-59.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥612.9K

$2,501 ¥400.1K

53.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

1.72

-2.91%

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

Last update for Wakayama: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Wakayama versus $1,094 in Tokyo. 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 53% higher in Wakayama, 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 $35.00 in Wakayama versus $48.00 in Tokyo. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Wakayama vs $382 in Tokyo – so Tokyo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Wakayama vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,344 in Wakayama, $1,684 in Tokyo – roughly 25% apart. Tokyo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,015 per month in Wakayama and $2,526 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Tokyo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Wakayama and $48.00 in Tokyo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Wakayama, where all-in costs run around $1,344, than in Tokyo at $1,684. In Wakayama 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 $1,344 in Wakayama to $1,684 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 Wakayama. 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.