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: $1,440 in Yokohama versus $1,113 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,182 in Yokohama versus $1,838 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,924 in Yokohama versus $2,564 in Niigata.

Living in Yokohama is roughly 29% more expensive than in Niigata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 8% above, Niigata is 17% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ¥1,158

$5.47 ¥889

30.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ¥6,685

$49.22 ¥7,997

-16.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 ¥905

$5.66 ¥920

-1.59%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥519

$2.05 ¥334

56.10%

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

$1.17 ¥189

$1.22 ¥198

-4.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$0.74 ¥119

9.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥342

$2.70 ¥438

-21.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥500

$3.40 ¥552

-9.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥254

$1.33 ¥215

17.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.18 ¥191

41.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.99 ¥811

$3.43 ¥558

45.48%

Eggs

$2.27 ¥369

$2.34 ¥380

-2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ¥1,654

$7.58 ¥1,231

34.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 ¥1,007

$5.74 ¥933

8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 ¥2,537

$22.97 ¥3,732

-32.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥989

$4.07 ¥662

49.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ¥504

$2.55 ¥415

21.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 ¥640

$3.13 ¥509

25.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 ¥985

$2.85 ¥464

112.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$2.38 ¥387

42.44%

Onion (1kg)

$4.25 ¥690

$2.20 ¥357

93.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥216

$1.03 ¥168

29.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.86 ¥139

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ¥667

Wine (Bottle)

$7.15 ¥1,162

$4.39 ¥713

62.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥295

$1.97 ¥320

-8.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥334

$2.74 ¥444

-24.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.78 ¥289

-13.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,839

$56.0 ¥9,104

-2.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥550

$2.76 ¥449

22.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ¥427

$2.78 ¥451

-5.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.83 ¥3,547

$20.48 ¥3,327

6.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥201

$1.16 ¥189

6.03%

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$16.0K ¥2.6M

46.74%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

$15.7K ¥2.6M

15.79%

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

$144 ¥23.4K

$164 ¥26.6K

-12.30%

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

$27.88 ¥4,530

$26.91 ¥4,372

3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.38 ¥5,423

$32.99 ¥5,359

1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ¥8,911

$60.4 ¥9,816

-9.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ¥2,230

$10.31 ¥1,675

33.07%

Cinema Ticket

$13.92 ¥2,261

$13.24 ¥2,151

5.14%

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

$285 ¥46.2K

$85.4 ¥13.9K

233.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$15.4K ¥2.5M

-11.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.99 ¥6,822

$41.58 ¥6,756

0.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 ¥4,783

$20.71 ¥3,365

42.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ¥9,608

$38.85 ¥6,312

52.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ¥17.8K

$56.8 ¥9,227

92.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.4K

$384 ¥62.4K

115.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ¥77.2K

$279 ¥45.3K

70.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 ¥206.1K

$851 ¥138.3K

49.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 ¥135.5K

$663 ¥107.7K

25.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,106 ¥992.0K

$4,134 ¥671.8K

47.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,409 ¥716.3K

$2,143 ¥348.2K

105.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,612 ¥424.4K

$1,245 ¥202.3K

109.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.24

65.32%

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

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Niigata: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Yokohama and $384 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 110% 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 $49.00 in Niigata. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $281, with Niigata 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 Niigata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yokohama and Niigata differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,440 vs $1,113 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 110% 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: $827 in Yokohama versus $384 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,440 per month in Yokohama versus $1,113 in Niigata – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Niigata runs roughly 3% less than in Yokohama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,113 in Niigata versus $1,440 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 29% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.