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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,362 per month in Wakayama vs $1,701 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,105 per month in Wakayama vs $2,691 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,848 per month in Wakayama vs $3,682 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 2%, Tokyo by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ¥1,146

$8.09 ¥1,314

-12.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 ¥5,530

$48.77 ¥7,923

-30.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 ¥1,041

$5.48 ¥891

16.79%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ¥508

$3.60 ¥584

-13.33%

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

$1.20 ¥195

$1.27 ¥206

-5.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥113

$0.86 ¥140

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥550

$4.08 ¥662

-17.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥341

$5.44 ¥883

-61.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥261

$1.62 ¥264

-0.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥289

$1.51 ¥245

17.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥828

$5.34 ¥868

-4.49%

Eggs

$2.45 ¥399

$2.32 ¥377

5.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.43 ¥2,832

$15.96 ¥2,593

9.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 ¥1,249

$8.12 ¥1,319

-5.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 ¥2,559

$22.55 ¥3,664

-30.16%

Apples (1kg)

$9.04 ¥1,469

$5.52 ¥897

63.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 ¥457

$2.59 ¥421

8.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ¥777

$5.92 ¥962

-19.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.67 ¥1,571

$6.07 ¥987

59.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ¥627

$3.24 ¥527

19.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ¥416

$3.39 ¥551

-24.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ¥214

$1.45 ¥235

-8.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ¥235

$0.87 ¥142

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥552

$4.25 ¥691

-20.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ¥1,465

$9.31 ¥1,513

-3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 ¥445

$2.05 ¥334

33.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ¥375

$2.87 ¥466

-19.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥268

$1.48 ¥241

11.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 ¥9,089

$84.6 ¥13.7K

-33.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ¥562

$3.38 ¥548

2.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.91 ¥473

-0.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.65 ¥2,869

$26.24 ¥4,264

-32.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥194

$1.20 ¥195

-0.83%

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

$22.9K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-2.86%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

-3.03%

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

$138 ¥22.4K

$168 ¥27.2K

-17.63%

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

$27.61 ¥4,485

$25.82 ¥4,195

6.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.19 ¥5,555

$33.50 ¥5,444

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ¥9,139

$70.9 ¥11.5K

-20.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,269

$20.25 ¥3,289

-31.06%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 ¥2,053

$13.07 ¥2,124

-3.29%

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

$478 ¥77.6K

$495 ¥80.3K

-3.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.9M

$15.7K ¥2.6M

-27.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,607

$61.5 ¥10,000

-23.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.60 ¥5,297

$41.66 ¥6,769

-21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 ¥9,245

$65.9 ¥10.7K

-13.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ¥15.1K

$91.1 ¥14.8K

2.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ¥76.3K

$1,120 ¥182.0K

-58.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ¥53.7K

$606 ¥98.5K

-45.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ¥138.0K

$2,680 ¥435.5K

-68.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ¥108.9K

$1,342 ¥218.0K

-50.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,081 ¥663.1K

$10.4K ¥1.7M

-60.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 ¥353.3K

$4,986 ¥810.1K

-56.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥622.6K

$2,330 ¥378.5K

64.49%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Wakayama versus $1,120 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 64% 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 $34.00 in Wakayama versus $49.00 in Tokyo. Groceries tell a different story – $407 in Wakayama vs $383 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: $1,362 in Wakayama, $1,701 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 $2,043 per month in Wakayama and $2,552 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 $34.00 in Wakayama and $49.00 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 $1,362, than in Tokyo at $1,701. 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 $1,362 in Wakayama 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 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.