Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kawasaki Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kawasaki

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,401 per month in Yokohama vs $1,670 in Kawasaki, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,170 per month in Yokohama vs $2,426 in Kawasaki, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,940 per month in Yokohama vs $3,182 in Kawasaki, rent included.

Yokohama is about 16% cheaper than Kawasaki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yokohama and Kawasaki sit above the global median – Yokohama by 5%, Kawasaki by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 ¥1,100

$8.16 ¥1,305

-15.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.57 ¥6,648

$48.19 ¥7,707

-13.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 ¥901

$5.49 ¥878

2.55%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ¥514

$3.06 ¥490

4.90%

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

$1.19 ¥191

$1.25 ¥199

-4.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥119

$0.82 ¥131

-9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ¥341

$3.52 ¥563

-39.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ¥487

$3.17 ¥507

-4.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.55 ¥248

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 ¥282

$1.59 ¥254

10.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 ¥793

$5.06 ¥810

-1.98%

Eggs

$2.30 ¥368

$2.36 ¥377

-2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 ¥1,630

$16.29 ¥2,605

-37.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ¥1,018

$7.42 ¥1,186

-14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 ¥2,472

$22.37 ¥3,577

-30.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥974

$5.82 ¥931

4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ¥501

$2.66 ¥425

17.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 ¥658

$5.97 ¥955

-30.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 ¥957

$5.89 ¥942

1.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ¥543

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 ¥682

$2.80 ¥448

52.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥213

$1.43 ¥229

-6.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥142

$1.18 ¥188

-24.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 ¥678

$4.22 ¥675

0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 ¥1,026

$9.51 ¥1,521

-32.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥284

$2.77 ¥443

-36.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥328

$2.92 ¥466

-29.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.55 ¥248

$1.44 ¥231

7.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 ¥8,716

$56.3 ¥9,002

-3.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ¥557

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.76 ¥441

$3.01 ¥482

-8.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 ¥3,581

$20.98 ¥3,356

6.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥188

$1.19 ¥190

-1.68%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$23.2K ¥3.7M

-0.18%

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

$18.6K ¥3.0M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

9.97%

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

$142 ¥22.7K

$141 ¥22.6K

0.43%

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

$28.10 ¥4,495

$26.64 ¥4,261

5.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.65 ¥5,542

$33.97 ¥5,433

2.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$61.2 ¥9,791

-8.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,232

$11.11 ¥1,777

25.65%

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 ¥2,162

$12.93 ¥2,069

4.49%

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

$283 ¥45.2K

$464 ¥74.2K

-39.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$11.3K ¥1.8M

22.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 ¥6,777

$62.1 ¥9,928

-31.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ¥4,693

$31.50 ¥5,038

-6.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,698

$65.3 ¥10.4K

-7.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ¥17.6K

$91.5 ¥14.6K

20.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 ¥134.3K

$829 ¥132.5K

1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 ¥76.9K

$635 ¥101.6K

-24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 ¥207.0K

$1,373 ¥219.6K

-5.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥137.9K

$846 ¥135.3K

1.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,268 ¥1.0M

$4,643 ¥742.6K

35.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,500 ¥719.8K

$3,141 ¥502.3K

43.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,672 ¥427.5K

$2,522 ¥403.4K

5.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.72

19.19%

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

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kawasaki: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $839 in Yokohama versus $829 in Kawasaki. 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 6% higher in Yokohama, 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 $42.00 in Yokohama versus $48.00 in Kawasaki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $387 – making Yokohama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kawasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kawasaki costs about 19% more than Yokohama, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,101 per month in Yokohama and $2,505 in Kawasaki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yokohama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Yokohama and $48.00 in Kawasaki. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,401 in Yokohama and $1,670 in Kawasaki. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yokohama, where all-in costs run around $1,401, than in Kawasaki at $1,670. In Yokohama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kawasaki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yokohama costs $1,401 versus $1,670 in Kawasaki. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Yokohama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kawasaki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.