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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,344 per month in Wakayama vs $1,401 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,118 per month in Wakayama vs $2,170 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,893 per month in Wakayama vs $2,940 in Yokohama, rent included.

Wakayama is about 4% cheaper than Yokohama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Wakayama and Yokohama sit above the global median – Wakayama by 0%, Yokohama by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.98 ¥1,116

$6.88 ¥1,100

1.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.10 ¥5,614

$41.57 ¥6,648

-15.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 ¥1,003

$5.63 ¥901

11.37%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥491

$3.21 ¥514

-4.36%

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

$1.19 ¥191

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.74 ¥119

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥541

$2.13 ¥341

58.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥329

$3.04 ¥487

-32.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ¥270

$1.50 ¥239

12.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥288

$1.76 ¥282

2.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥817

$4.96 ¥793

2.82%

Eggs

$2.55 ¥408

$2.30 ¥368

10.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 ¥2,756

$10.19 ¥1,630

69.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 ¥1,189

$6.36 ¥1,018

16.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 ¥2,439

$15.46 ¥2,472

-1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$8.90 ¥1,424

$6.09 ¥974

46.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 ¥448

$3.13 ¥501

-10.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 ¥781

$4.12 ¥658

18.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.57 ¥1,531

$5.98 ¥957

60.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ¥638

$3.40 ¥543

17.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ¥417

$4.26 ¥682

-38.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.33 ¥213

0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ¥224

$0.89 ¥142

57.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ¥553

$4.24 ¥678

-18.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ¥1,467

$6.41 ¥1,026

43.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ¥458

$1.77 ¥284

61.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥363

$2.05 ¥328

10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 ¥266

$1.55 ¥248

7.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,800

$54.5 ¥8,716

0.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 ¥548

$3.48 ¥557

-1.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 ¥472

$2.76 ¥441

6.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.57 ¥2,810

$22.39 ¥3,581

-21.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.17 ¥188

5.98%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

0.03%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

-8.84%

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

$138 ¥22.1K

$142 ¥22.7K

-2.24%

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

$26.81 ¥4,289

$28.10 ¥4,495

-4.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.21 ¥5,472

$34.65 ¥5,542

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ¥8,938

$55.8 ¥8,929

0.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ¥2,183

$13.96 ¥2,232

-2.22%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 ¥1,994

$13.51 ¥2,162

-7.70%

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

$474 ¥75.8K

$283 ¥45.2K

67.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ¥1.8M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-17.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,488

$42.37 ¥6,777

10.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.66 ¥5,224

$29.34 ¥4,693

11.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$60.6 ¥9,698

-7.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.6K

$110 ¥17.6K

-17.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ¥73.9K

$839 ¥134.3K

-44.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ¥52.0K

$481 ¥76.9K

-32.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ¥137.4K

$1,294 ¥207.0K

-33.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 ¥104.3K

$862 ¥137.9K

-24.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,458 ¥713.1K

$6,268 ¥1.0M

-28.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,039 ¥326.2K

$4,500 ¥719.8K

-54.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥612.9K

$2,672 ¥427.5K

43.39%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Wakayama versus $839 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 43% 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 $42.00 in Yokohama. Groceries tell a different story – $405 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 4%, 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 $2,015 per month in Wakayama and $2,101 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 24% 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 $35.00 in Wakayama and $42.00 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 $1,344, than in Yokohama at $1,401. 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.