😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,401 in Yokohama versus $1,231 in Aomori.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,170 in Yokohama versus $1,931 in Aomori.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Yokohama versus $2,630 in Aomori.
😐Living in Yokohama is roughly 14% more expensive than Aomori, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 5% above, Aomori is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.88¥1,103
$7.05¥1,130
-2.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.57¥6,663
$35.28¥5,655
17.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63¥903
$5.40¥865
4.26%
Cappuccino
$3.21¥515
$3.11¥498
3.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19¥191
$1.10¥176
8.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74¥119
$0.75¥120
-1.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13¥341
$2.64¥423
-19.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04¥488
$3.15¥505
-3.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50¥240
$1.59¥255
-5.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76¥282
$1.54¥247
14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.96¥795
$4.72¥756
5.08%
Eggs
$2.30¥369
$2.21¥354
4.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.19¥1,634
$10.11¥1,620
0.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36¥1,020
$6.28¥1,007
1.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46¥2,477
$15.42¥2,472
0.26%
Apples(1kg)
$6.09¥976
$5.41¥867
12.57%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13¥502
$2.61¥419
19.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.12¥660
$4.07¥653
1.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98¥959
$6.02¥964
-0.66%
Potato(1kg)
$3.40¥544
$3.15¥505
7.94%
Onion(1kg)
$4.26¥683
$2.64¥423
61.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33¥213
$1.39¥223
-4.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89¥143
$0.90¥144
-1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24¥679
$4.26¥683
-0.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41¥1,028
$8.27¥1,326
-22.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77¥284
$1.90¥305
-6.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥328
$2.23¥357
-8.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.55¥248
$1.66¥266
-6.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.5¥8,734
$56.4¥9,045
-3.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48¥558
$3.49¥559
-0.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76¥442
$2.97¥477
-7.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.39¥3,589
$20.58¥3,298
8.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥188
$1.12¥179
4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K¥3.7M
$23.5K¥3.8M
-1.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K¥3.0M
$17.1K¥2.7M
8.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142¥22.7K
$142¥22.7K
0.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.10¥4,504
$27.60¥4,424
1.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.65¥5,554
$33.71¥5,404
2.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8¥8,948
$56.2¥9,013
-0.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.96¥2,237
$13.86¥2,221
0.72%
Cinema Ticket
$13.51¥2,166
$12.63¥2,025
6.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283¥45.3K
$278¥44.5K
1.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$13.2K¥2.1M
4.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.37¥6,791
$42.77¥6,856
-0.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.34¥4,703
$29.97¥4,804
-2.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.6¥9,719
$58.9¥9,442
2.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110¥17.6K
$92.5¥14.8K
18.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839¥134.6K
$461¥74.0K
81.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481¥77.1K
$334¥53.6K
43.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,294¥207.4K
$868¥139.1K
49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862¥138.2K
$667¥106.9K
29.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,268¥1.0M
$4,076¥653.4K
53.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,500¥721.4K
$2,639¥423.0K
70.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yokohama
Aomori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,672¥428.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.05
1.78
15.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026
Last update for Aomori: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Yokohama and $461 in Aomori. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Yokohama vs $35.00 in Aomori for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $318 per month, with Aomori cheaper across the board.
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
Yokohama vs Aomori: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yokohama and Aomori?
Yokohama and Aomori differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,401 vs $1,231 including rent). Aomori is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Yokohama compared to Aomori?
You'd need roughly $2,101 in Yokohama and $1,847 in Aomori to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Yokohama and Aomori?
Rent for a central apartment: $839 in Yokohama versus $461 in Aomori. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Yokohama and Aomori?
Childcare runs $283 in Yokohama versus $278 in Aomori. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,231 in Aomori versus $1,401 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aomori but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Aomori the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yokohama and Aomori?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Yokohama or Aomori safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yokohama and Aomori are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Yokohama or Aomori?
Expats usually find Aomori gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.