😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,401 in Yokohama versus $1,183 in Ichihara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,170 in Yokohama versus $1,881 in Ichihara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Yokohama versus $2,579 in Ichihara.
😐Living in Yokohama is roughly 18% more expensive than Ichihara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 5% above, Ichihara is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.88¥1,100
$7.13¥1,141
-3.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.57¥6,648
$34.72¥5,553
19.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63¥901
$5.09¥814
10.61%
Cappuccino
$3.21¥514
$3.19¥511
0.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19¥191
$1.14¥183
4.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74¥119
$0.80¥129
-7.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13¥341
$2.09¥335
1.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04¥487
$2.04¥326
49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50¥239
$1.53¥245
-1.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76¥282
$1.75¥280
0.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.96¥793
$4.94¥791
0.40%
Eggs
$2.30¥368
$1.56¥250
47.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.19¥1,630
$10.06¥1,609
1.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36¥1,018
$6.16¥985
3.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46¥2,472
$15.36¥2,457
0.65%
Apples(1kg)
$6.09¥974
$5.95¥951
2.35%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13¥501
$3.20¥512
-2.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.12¥658
$3.92¥628
5.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98¥957
$4.60¥736
30.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.40¥543
$3.39¥542
0.29%
Onion(1kg)
$4.26¥682
$3.67¥588
16.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33¥213
$1.34¥215
-0.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89¥142
$0.81¥130
9.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24¥678
$4.04¥646
4.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41¥1,026
$8.06¥1,289
-20.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77¥284
$1.75¥279
1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥328
$2.04¥326
0.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.55¥248
$1.65¥264
-6.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.5¥8,716
$56.1¥8,973
-2.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48¥557
$3.40¥544
2.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76¥441
$2.90¥464
-4.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.39¥3,581
$21.90¥3,503
2.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥188
$1.14¥182
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K¥3.7M
$23.5K¥3.8M
-1.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K¥3.0M
$18.4K¥2.9M
0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142¥22.7K
$84.6¥13.5K
67.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.10¥4,495
$27.72¥4,434
1.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.65¥5,542
$17.12¥2,739
102.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8¥8,929
$55.9¥8,936
-0.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.96¥2,232
$13.69¥2,189
1.97%
Cinema Ticket
$13.51¥2,162
$11.24¥1,797
20.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283¥45.2K
$287¥45.8K
-1.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$14.0K¥2.2M
-1.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.37¥6,777
$41.33¥6,610
2.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.34¥4,693
$29.30¥4,687
0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.6¥9,698
$59.3¥9,479
2.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110¥17.6K
$98.4¥15.7K
11.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839¥134.3K
$459¥73.5K
82.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481¥76.9K
$324¥51.8K
48.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,294¥207.0K
$868¥138.8K
49.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862¥137.9K
$660¥105.6K
30.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,268¥1.0M
$5,257¥840.8K
19.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,500¥719.8K
$2,054¥328.5K
119.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yokohama
Ichihara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,672¥427.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.05
2
2.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ichihara: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Yokohama and $459 in Ichihara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Yokohama vs $35.00 in Ichihara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $315 per month, with Ichihara 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 Ichihara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichihara cheaper than Yokohama?
Ichihara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,101 in Yokohama and $1,775 in Ichihara 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.
What is the rent difference between Yokohama and Ichihara?
Rent for a central apartment: $839 in Yokohama versus $459 in Ichihara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $283 in Yokohama versus $287 in Ichihara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Yokohama and Ichihara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Yokohama or Ichihara?
At $1,183 in Ichihara versus $1,401 in Yokohama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ichihara but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Ichihara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Yokohama or Ichihara more family-friendly?
For families, Ichihara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Yokohama, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Yokohama or Ichihara?
Safety-wise, Yokohama and Ichihara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ichihara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.