Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Niigata Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Niigata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,375 in Yokohama versus $768 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,131 in Yokohama versus $1,162 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,886 in Yokohama versus $1,556 in Niigata.

Living in Yokohama is roughly 79% more expensive than in Niigata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 1% above, Niigata is 44% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ¥1,026

$6.37 ¥994

3.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.14 ¥6,575

$16.41 ¥2,561

156.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 ¥818

$5.07 ¥790

3.35%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥558

$2.67 ¥417

34.08%

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

$1.12 ¥175

$1.65 ¥258

-32.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥119

$0.83 ¥130

-8.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 ¥413

$2.53 ¥395

4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ¥493

$2.69 ¥420

17.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 ¥233

$1.26 ¥196

18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 ¥275

$0.93 ¥146

89.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 ¥575

$2.65 ¥413

38.87%

Eggs

$2.11 ¥329

$2.24 ¥350

-5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 ¥1,865

$7.71 ¥1,202

54.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ¥956

$7.53 ¥1,175

-18.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.04 ¥2,346

$18.56 ¥2,895

-18.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.75 ¥897

$3.32 ¥518

73.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 ¥450

$1.28 ¥200

125.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ¥474

$2.55 ¥399

19.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 ¥666

$2.24 ¥349

90.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 ¥401

$1.99 ¥310

29.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 ¥428

$1.90 ¥297

44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥208

$1.01 ¥158

31.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.62 ¥96.4

24.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥613

$3.98 ¥621

-1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 ¥1,003

$4.50 ¥702

42.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥287

$1.77 ¥275

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ¥322

$1.89 ¥295

9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥227

$1.30 ¥203

12.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ¥8,932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 ¥518

$2.61 ¥407

27.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ¥414

$3.20 ¥499

-17.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.00 ¥3,276

$18.99 ¥2,962

10.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥170

$1.13 ¥176

-3.54%

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

$21.8K ¥3.4M

$19.5K ¥3.0M

11.61%

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

$18.8K ¥2.9M

$13.0K ¥2.0M

44.50%

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

$138 ¥21.5K

$157 ¥24.5K

-12.39%

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

$24.34 ¥3,798

$22.59 ¥3,525

7.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.91 ¥5,135

$26.29 ¥4,102

25.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 ¥8,251

$53.2 ¥8,295

-0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ¥1,837

$6.59 ¥1,029

78.60%

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 ¥2,000

$12.43 ¥1,940

3.14%

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

$654 ¥102.1K

$65.6 ¥10.2K

897.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K ¥2.4M

$18.1K ¥2.8M

-16.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 ¥10.0K

$32.83 ¥5,123

95.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 ¥5,283

$32.65 ¥5,094

3.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 ¥9,849

$39.55 ¥6,170

59.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ¥16.2K

$66.0 ¥10.3K

57.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 ¥184.0K

$363 ¥56.6K

225.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ¥71.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,316 ¥361.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 ¥138.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,991 ¥1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,099 ¥639.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,778 ¥433.4K

$1,313 ¥204.8K

111.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.12

1.48

43.24%

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

Last update for Yokohama: September 14, 2026

Last update for Niigata: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,179 in Yokohama and $363 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 112% 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: $42.00 in Yokohama vs $16.00 in Niigata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $301 vs $246 per month, with Niigata 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 Niigata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yokohama and Niigata differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,375 vs $768 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 112% 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: $1,179 in Yokohama versus $363 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,375 per month in Yokohama versus $768 in Niigata – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $768 in Niigata versus $1,375 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata 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 Niigata 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 Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.