😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,440 in Yokohama versus $1,022 in Kurume.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,182 in Yokohama versus $1,597 in Kurume.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,924 in Yokohama versus $2,172 in Kurume.
🌍Living in Yokohama is roughly 41% more expensive than in Kurume, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 8% above, Kurume is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13¥1,158
$4.85¥788
47.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.15¥6,685
$41.86¥6,802
-1.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.57¥905
$4.17¥678
33.57%
Cappuccino
$3.20¥519
$2.10¥342
52.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17¥189
$0.77¥125
51.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81¥132
$0.55¥89.4
47.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11¥342
$3.45¥560
-38.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08¥500
$1.76¥285
75.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56¥254
$1.42¥230
9.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67¥271
$1.43¥232
16.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.99¥811
$4.13¥670
20.82%
Eggs
$2.27¥369
$2.10¥340
8.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.18¥1,654
$10.25¥1,665
-0.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20¥1,007
$6.12¥994
1.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62¥2,537
$21.02¥3,416
-25.69%
Apples(1kg)
$6.09¥989
$3.05¥496
99.67%
Banana(1kg)
$3.10¥504
$1.41¥229
119.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94¥640
$1.36¥222
189.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.06¥985
$5.83¥947
3.95%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39¥551
$2.76¥448
22.83%
Onion(1kg)
$4.25¥690
$3.13¥508
35.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33¥216
$0.98¥159
35.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥143
$0.76¥124
15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11¥667
$3.96¥643
3.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.15¥1,162
$6.04¥982
18.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81¥295
$1.94¥315
-6.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06¥334
$1.21¥196
70.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54¥250
$1.60¥260
-3.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.4¥8,839
$54.7¥8,892
-0.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38¥550
$4.78¥776
-29.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63¥427
$2.91¥473
-9.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.83¥3,547
$19.75¥3,210
10.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥201
$0.70¥115
75.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K¥3.8M
$23.3K¥3.8M
0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K¥3.0M
$19.7K¥3.2M
-7.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144¥23.4K
$215¥34.9K
-33.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.88¥4,530
$27.50¥4,468
1.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.38¥5,423
$24.68¥4,010
35.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9¥8,911
$55.0¥8,933
-0.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.72¥2,230
$13.64¥2,217
0.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.92¥2,261
$7.83¥1,272
77.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285¥46.2K
$416¥67.6K
-31.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K¥2.2M
$13.2K¥2.1M
3.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.99¥6,822
$42.71¥6,940
-1.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.44¥4,783
$13.93¥2,263
111.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1¥9,608
$26.69¥4,336
121.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109¥17.8K
$34.22¥5,561
219.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827¥134.4K
$211¥34.3K
292.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475¥77.2K
$140¥22.8K
238.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,268¥206.1K
$527¥85.6K
140.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$834¥135.5K
$343¥55.7K
142.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,106¥992.0K
$4,477¥727.4K
36.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,409¥716.3K
$2,230¥362.4K
97.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yokohama
Kurume
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,612¥424.4K
$1,480¥240.5K
76.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.05
1.67
22.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026
Last update for Kurume: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Yokohama and $211 in Kurume. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 76% 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: $41.00 in Yokohama vs $42.00 in Kurume. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $288, with Kurume cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kurume: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yokohama and in Kurume?
Yokohama and Kurume differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,440 vs $1,022 including rent). Kurume is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Yokohama or Kurume?
Average pay runs 76% higher in Yokohama, 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 in Kurume?
Rent for a central apartment: $827 in Yokohama versus $211 in Kurume. 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 14% 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 Kurume – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $41.00 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 $1,022 in Kurume versus $1,440 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kurume but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Kurume the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yokohama and Kurume?
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 Kurume safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yokohama and Kurume 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 Kurume?
Expats usually find Kurume gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.