Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kyoto Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Kyoto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,440 per month in Yokohama vs $1,289 in Kyoto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,182 per month in Yokohama vs $2,149 in Kyoto, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,924 per month in Yokohama vs $3,009 in Kyoto, rent included.

Yokohama costs about 12% more than Kyoto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Yokohama sits 8% above the global median, while Kyoto is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ¥1,158

$10.58 ¥1,719

-32.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ¥6,685

$34.03 ¥5,529

20.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 ¥905

$5.51 ¥895

1.09%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥519

$3.37 ¥548

-5.04%

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

$1.17 ¥189

$0.94 ¥153

24.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$0.76 ¥123

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥342

$3.57 ¥581

-40.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥500

$6.70 ¥1,088

-54.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥254

$1.69 ¥275

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.72 ¥280

-2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.99 ¥811

$3.08 ¥500

62.01%

Eggs

$2.27 ¥369

$2.33 ¥378

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ¥1,654

$9.70 ¥1,576

4.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 ¥1,007

$7.76 ¥1,261

-20.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 ¥2,537

$15.66 ¥2,545

-0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥989

$5.45 ¥886

11.74%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ¥504

$2.59 ¥421

19.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 ¥640

$6.50 ¥1,056

-39.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 ¥985

$3.89 ¥632

55.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$1.66 ¥270

104.22%

Onion (1kg)

$4.25 ¥690

$2.25 ¥366

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥216

$1.31 ¥212

1.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.95 ¥155

-7.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ¥667

$4.25 ¥691

-3.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.15 ¥1,162

$7.34 ¥1,192

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥295

$1.78 ¥289

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥334

$3.72 ¥605

-44.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.67 ¥272

-7.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,839

$68.5 ¥11.1K

-20.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥550

$3.50 ¥568

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ¥427

$2.98 ¥484

-11.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.83 ¥3,547

$18.10 ¥2,941

20.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥201

$1.23 ¥200

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.84%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

$16.8K ¥2.7M

8.03%

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

$144 ¥23.4K

$111 ¥18.0K

29.54%

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

$27.88 ¥4,530

$26.56 ¥4,315

4.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.38 ¥5,423

$33.14 ¥5,384

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ¥8,911

$58.6 ¥9,525

-6.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ¥2,230

$20.90 ¥3,396

-34.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.92 ¥2,261

$12.91 ¥2,097

7.82%

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

$285 ¥46.2K

$369 ¥60.0K

-22.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$7,433 ¥1.2M

84.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.99 ¥6,822

$46.09 ¥7,488

-8.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 ¥4,783

$32.40 ¥5,265

-9.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ¥9,608

$74.7 ¥12.1K

-20.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ¥17.8K

$92.6 ¥15.0K

18.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.4K

$582 ¥94.6K

42.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ¥77.2K

$347 ¥56.4K

36.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 ¥206.1K

$1,671 ¥271.4K

-24.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 ¥135.5K

$909 ¥147.6K

-8.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,106 ¥992.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,409 ¥716.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,612 ¥424.4K

$1,862 ¥302.5K

40.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.78

15.17%

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

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kyoto: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $827 in Yokohama versus $582 in Kyoto. 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 40% higher in Yokohama, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Yokohama versus $34.00 in Kyoto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $316 – making Kyoto 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 Kyoto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,440 in Yokohama, $1,289 in Kyoto – roughly 12% apart. Yokohama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,160 per month in Yokohama and $1,934 in Kyoto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 3% more in Yokohama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Yokohama and $34.00 in Kyoto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyoto, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Yokohama at $1,440. In Kyoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Yokohama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,289 in Kyoto to $1,440 in Yokohama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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