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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Wakayama vs $1,340 in Yokohama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,992 per month in Wakayama vs $2,073 in Yokohama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Wakayama vs $2,806 in Yokohama, rent included.

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

Both Wakayama and Yokohama are more affordable than the global median – Wakayama 7% lower, Yokohama 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 ¥988

$6.20 ¥969

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.80 ¥4,812

$43.57 ¥6,807

-29.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥791

$4.88 ¥762

3.69%

Cappuccino

$2.33 ¥364

$3.37 ¥527

-30.86%

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

$1.23 ¥193

$1.04 ¥163

18.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥134

$0.79 ¥124

8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 ¥493

$2.43 ¥379

29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥290

$3.11 ¥485

-40.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥240

$1.38 ¥215

11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ¥241

$1.64 ¥256

-6.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 ¥635

$3.66 ¥571

10.93%

Eggs

$2.19 ¥343

$2.05 ¥321

6.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.85 ¥2,476

$11.53 ¥1,801

37.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 ¥1,067

$6.08 ¥949

12.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.91 ¥2,642

$14.31 ¥2,236

18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$8.13 ¥1,271

$5.75 ¥898

41.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 ¥462

$2.81 ¥440

5.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.93 ¥770

$2.93 ¥458

68.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.59 ¥1,185

$4.11 ¥642

84.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 ¥606

$2.52 ¥394

53.97%

Onion (1kg)

$4.53 ¥708

$2.59 ¥405

74.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ¥181

$1.28 ¥200

-9.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥138

$0.79 ¥124

11.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ¥618

$3.64 ¥569

8.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.66 ¥1,509

$6.35 ¥993

52.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ¥394

$1.78 ¥278

41.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ¥337

$1.98 ¥309

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 ¥248

$1.41 ¥220

12.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 ¥8,826

$56.6 ¥8,836

-0.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 ¥503

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 ¥438

$2.48 ¥388

12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.38 ¥2,403

$20.42 ¥3,191

-24.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ¥167

$1.11 ¥173

-3.60%

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

$21.5K ¥3.4M

$20.8K ¥3.2M

3.25%

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

$14.9K ¥2.3M

$18.2K ¥2.8M

-18.49%

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

$114 ¥17.9K

$130 ¥20.3K

-11.89%

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

$22.81 ¥3,564

$23.66 ¥3,697

-3.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.65 ¥4,789

$31.55 ¥4,929

-2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.44 ¥6,943

$50.8 ¥7,928

-12.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.57 ¥1,807

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 ¥1,789

$12.73 ¥1,989

-10.05%

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

$567 ¥88.6K

$621 ¥96.9K

-8.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ¥2.3M

$14.4K ¥2.2M

1.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.96 ¥7,805

$61.0 ¥9,530

-18.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.01 ¥5,626

$32.14 ¥5,021

12.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 ¥9,303

$60.3 ¥9,413

-1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 ¥14.9K

$101 ¥15.8K

-5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 ¥68.2K

$1,137 ¥177.7K

-61.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 ¥47.4K

$449 ¥70.1K

-32.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 ¥170.4K

$2,273 ¥355.1K

-52.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 ¥102.5K

$836 ¥130.6K

-21.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,150 ¥648.4K

$6,574 ¥1.0M

-36.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,703 ¥266.1K

$4,057 ¥633.7K

-58.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,956 ¥618.0K

$2,611 ¥407.9K

51.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.66

2.12

-21.70%

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

Last update for Wakayama: September 1, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Wakayama versus $1,137 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 51% 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 $31.00 in Wakayama versus $44.00 in Yokohama. Groceries tell a different story – $376 in Wakayama vs $292 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 5%, 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 $1,910 per month in Wakayama and $2,009 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 29% 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 $31.00 in Wakayama and $44.00 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 $1,273, than in Yokohama at $1,340. 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.