Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Yokohama Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Yokohama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,362 per month in Wakayama vs $1,440 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,105 per month in Wakayama vs $2,182 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,848 per month in Wakayama vs $2,924 in Yokohama, rent included.

Wakayama is about 5% cheaper than Yokohama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Wakayama and Yokohama sit above the global median – Wakayama by 2%, Yokohama by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ¥1,146

$7.13 ¥1,158

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 ¥5,530

$41.15 ¥6,685

-17.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 ¥1,041

$5.57 ¥905

14.90%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ¥508

$3.20 ¥519

-2.50%

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

$1.20 ¥195

$1.17 ¥189

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥113

$0.81 ¥132

-13.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥550

$2.11 ¥342

60.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥341

$3.08 ¥500

-31.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥261

$1.56 ¥254

3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥289

$1.67 ¥271

6.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥828

$4.99 ¥811

2.20%

Eggs

$2.45 ¥399

$2.27 ¥369

7.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.43 ¥2,832

$10.18 ¥1,654

71.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 ¥1,249

$6.20 ¥1,007

24.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 ¥2,559

$15.62 ¥2,537

0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$9.04 ¥1,469

$6.09 ¥989

48.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 ¥457

$3.10 ¥504

-9.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ¥777

$3.94 ¥640

21.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.67 ¥1,571

$6.06 ¥985

59.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ¥627

$3.39 ¥551

13.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ¥416

$4.25 ¥690

-39.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ¥214

$1.33 ¥216

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ¥235

$0.88 ¥143

64.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥552

$4.11 ¥667

-17.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ¥1,465

$7.15 ¥1,162

26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 ¥445

$1.81 ¥295

51.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ¥375

$2.06 ¥334

12.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥268

$1.54 ¥250

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 ¥9,089

$54.4 ¥8,839

2.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ¥562

$3.38 ¥550

2.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.63 ¥427

9.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.65 ¥2,869

$21.83 ¥3,547

-19.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥194

$1.23 ¥201

-3.25%

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

$22.9K ¥3.7M

$23.4K ¥3.8M

-2.21%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$18.2K ¥3.0M

-8.31%

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

$138 ¥22.4K

$144 ¥23.4K

-3.95%

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

$27.61 ¥4,485

$27.88 ¥4,530

-0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.19 ¥5,555

$33.38 ¥5,423

2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ¥9,139

$54.9 ¥8,911

2.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,269

$13.72 ¥2,230

1.75%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 ¥2,053

$13.92 ¥2,261

-9.20%

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

$478 ¥77.6K

$285 ¥46.2K

67.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.9M

$13.7K ¥2.2M

-16.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,607

$41.99 ¥6,822

11.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.60 ¥5,297

$29.44 ¥4,783

10.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 ¥9,245

$59.1 ¥9,608

-3.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ¥15.1K

$109 ¥17.8K

-15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ¥76.3K

$827 ¥134.4K

-43.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ¥53.7K

$475 ¥77.2K

-30.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ¥138.0K

$1,268 ¥206.1K

-33.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ¥108.9K

$834 ¥135.5K

-19.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,081 ¥663.1K

$6,106 ¥992.0K

-33.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 ¥353.3K

$4,409 ¥716.3K

-50.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥622.6K

$2,612 ¥424.4K

46.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

2.05

-18.54%

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

Last update for Wakayama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Wakayama 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 47% 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 $41.00 in Yokohama. Groceries tell a different story – $407 in Wakayama vs $327 in Yokohama – so Yokohama 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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Yokohama is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,043 per month in Wakayama 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 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 25% cheaper in Yokohama – 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 $41.00 in Yokohama. 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 Yokohama at $1,440. In Wakayama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wakayama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Yokohama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.