Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kurume Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kurume

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Yokohama versus $944 in Kurume.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,064 in Yokohama versus $1,492 in Kurume.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,774 in Yokohama versus $2,040 in Kurume.

Living in Yokohama is roughly 43% more expensive than in Kurume, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 0% above, Kurume is 30% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.44 ¥1,017

$4.40 ¥696

46.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.22 ¥6,512

$43.69 ¥6,901

-5.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ¥785

$3.69 ¥582

34.69%

Cappuccino

$3.52 ¥556

$1.89 ¥298

86.24%

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

$1.09 ¥172

$0.69 ¥108

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥119

$0.51 ¥80.5

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 ¥403

$3.13 ¥494

-18.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ¥512

$1.58 ¥249

105.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ¥227

$1.29 ¥204

10.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 ¥273

$1.29 ¥203

34.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 ¥581

$5.12 ¥810

-28.13%

Eggs

$2.03 ¥321

$1.90 ¥300

6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.73 ¥1,852

$18.20 ¥2,874

-35.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ¥946

$5.36 ¥847

11.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 ¥2,262

$19.21 ¥3,034

-25.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.56 ¥877

$3.54 ¥560

57.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 ¥451

$1.82 ¥288

56.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 ¥454

$2.79 ¥440

2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.23 ¥668

$3.33 ¥526

27.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 ¥402

$2.14 ¥339

19.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 ¥420

$2.53 ¥399

5.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ¥195

$1.08 ¥171

13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥131

$0.93 ¥146

-10.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ¥614

$3.51 ¥555

10.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,029

$6.53 ¥1,032

-0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥279

$1.71 ¥270

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥320

$1.14 ¥180

78.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.38 ¥218

$1.49 ¥236

-7.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ¥9,100

$48.43 ¥7,649

18.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 ¥497

$4.07 ¥643

-22.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 ¥395

$2.01 ¥318

24.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.45 ¥3,230

$18.21 ¥2,877

12.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ¥169

$0.60 ¥95.1

78.33%

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

$21.9K ¥3.5M

$21.8K ¥3.4M

0.82%

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

$18.3K ¥2.9M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

3.58%

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

$134 ¥21.1K

$190 ¥30.0K

-29.59%

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

$24.37 ¥3,849

$24.69 ¥3,900

-1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.47 ¥5,129

$22.48 ¥3,551

44.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.7 ¥8,010

$54.2 ¥8,559

-6.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.59 ¥1,831

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 ¥2,036

$6.80 ¥1,074

89.56%

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

$642 ¥101.4K

$128 ¥20.2K

403.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ¥2.3M

$12.2K ¥1.9M

20.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ¥10.0K

$38.78 ¥6,125

63.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.87 ¥5,193

$12.80 ¥2,021

156.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ¥9,590

$24.83 ¥3,922

144.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ¥16.0K

$31.32 ¥4,947

223.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 ¥186.0K

$522 ¥82.4K

125.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ¥70.5K

$127 ¥20.1K

250.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ¥356.8K

$470 ¥74.3K

380.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥135.1K

$323 ¥51.0K

164.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,818 ¥1.1M

$4,877 ¥770.4K

39.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,139 ¥653.7K

$1,621 ¥256.1K

155.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,666 ¥421.1K

$1,552 ¥245.2K

71.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.12

1.85

14.59%

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

Last update for Yokohama: September 28, 2026

Last update for Kurume: September 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,178 in Yokohama and $522 in Kurume. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 72% 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 $44.00 in Kurume for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $300 per month, with Yokohama 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 Kurume: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yokohama and Kurume differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,353 vs $944 including rent). Kurume is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 72% higher in Yokohama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,178 in Yokohama versus $522 in Kurume. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Yokohama pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Kurume – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $41.00 in Yokohama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $944 in Kurume versus $1,353 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Kurume gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.