😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Yokohama versus $1,109 in Hamamatsu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Yokohama versus $1,844 in Hamamatsu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,881 in Yokohama versus $2,579 in Hamamatsu.
😐Living in Yokohama is roughly 26% more expensive than Hamamatsu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 4% above, Hamamatsu is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00¥1,119
$4.99¥798
40.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.18¥6,746
$40.88¥6,538
3.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.70¥911
$3.44¥550
65.70%
Cappuccino
$3.20¥512
$3.07¥490
4.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20¥192
$0.72¥115
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79¥127
$0.75¥120
5.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05¥329
$2.07¥331
-0.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18¥509
$2.75¥440
15.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57¥251
$1.51¥242
3.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67¥267
$1.73¥276
-3.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.05¥808
$5.00¥799
1.00%
Eggs
$2.20¥352
$1.82¥291
20.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.93¥1,588
$9.93¥1,588
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45¥1,032
$6.24¥997
3.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.40¥2,463
$15.56¥2,489
-1.03%
Apples(1kg)
$6.19¥989
$4.22¥675
46.68%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13¥501
$2.10¥336
49.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95¥632
$3.40¥544
16.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.85¥936
$4.26¥682
37.32%
Potato(1kg)
$3.38¥541
$3.40¥543
-0.59%
Onion(1kg)
$4.22¥675
$4.18¥668
0.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34¥214
$1.40¥223
-4.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥132
$0.88¥140
-5.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04¥646
$3.52¥563
14.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.17¥988
$9.40¥1,504
-34.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82¥292
$1.77¥284
2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥340
$2.07¥331
2.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.51¥242
$1.01¥162
49.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.7¥8,741
$54.8¥8,770
-0.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50¥560
$3.39¥542
3.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76¥442
$2.93¥468
-5.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.09¥3,533
$22.59¥3,613
-2.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥190
$1.21¥193
-1.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K¥3.8M
$20.9K¥3.3M
12.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K¥3.0M
$14.0K¥2.2M
33.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140¥22.5K
$109¥17.4K
28.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.84¥4,452
$9.72¥1,554
186.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.30¥5,326
$21.01¥3,360
58.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1¥8,807
$105¥16.8K
-47.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.02¥2,242
$18.77¥3,002
-25.31%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72¥2,195
$13.50¥2,160
1.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287¥45.9K
$278¥44.5K
3.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.1K¥2.3M
$14.1K¥2.3M
0.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.08¥6,570
$42.38¥6,778
-3.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07¥4,650
$27.81¥4,448
4.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.3¥9,479
$54.6¥8,737
8.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112¥17.9K
$106¥16.9K
5.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831¥132.9K
$376¥60.2K
120.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483¥77.3K
$245¥39.1K
97.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,251¥200.1K
$871¥139.3K
43.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859¥137.3K
$581¥92.9K
47.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,283¥1.0M
$7,573¥1.2M
-17.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,419¥706.8K
$5,304¥848.4K
-16.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,724¥435.7K
$1,248¥199.6K
118.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.05
0.95
115.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yokohama: June 7, 2026
Last update for Hamamatsu: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Yokohama and $376 in Hamamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Yokohama vs $41.00 in Hamamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $302 per month, with Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yokohama and Hamamatsu?
Yokohama and Hamamatsu differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,394 vs $1,109 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Yokohama or Hamamatsu?
Yokohama pays 118% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Yokohama and Hamamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $831 in Yokohama versus $376 in Hamamatsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $42.00 in Yokohama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,109 in Hamamatsu versus $1,394 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yokohama and Hamamatsu?
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 Hamamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yokohama and Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.