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: $1,401 in Yokohama versus $1,122 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,170 in Yokohama versus $1,852 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Yokohama versus $2,581 in Niigata.

Living in Yokohama is roughly 25% more expensive than Niigata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 5% above, Niigata is 16% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 ¥1,100

$5.65 ¥904

21.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.57 ¥6,648

$48.78 ¥7,803

-14.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 ¥901

$5.49 ¥878

2.55%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ¥514

$2.06 ¥330

55.83%

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

$1.19 ¥191

$1.21 ¥193

-1.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥119

$0.79 ¥126

-6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ¥341

$2.82 ¥451

-24.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ¥487

$3.44 ¥551

-11.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.31 ¥210

14.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 ¥282

$1.20 ¥192

46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 ¥793

$3.35 ¥536

48.06%

Eggs

$2.30 ¥368

$2.42 ¥387

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 ¥1,630

$7.76 ¥1,241

31.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ¥1,018

$5.94 ¥950

7.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 ¥2,472

$22.94 ¥3,670

-32.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥974

$4.06 ¥649

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ¥501

$2.57 ¥411

21.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 ¥658

$3.16 ¥506

30.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 ¥957

$2.98 ¥477

100.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ¥543

$2.27 ¥363

49.78%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 ¥682

$2.26 ¥362

88.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥213

$1.04 ¥166

27.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥142

$0.83 ¥133

7.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 ¥678

$4.01 ¥642

5.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 ¥1,026

$4.27 ¥682

50.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥284

$1.91 ¥306

-7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥328

$2.72 ¥436

-24.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.55 ¥248

$1.84 ¥294

-15.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 ¥8,716

$55.0 ¥8,798

-0.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.89 ¥462

20.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.76 ¥441

$2.77 ¥443

-0.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 ¥3,581

$20.54 ¥3,285

9.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥188

$1.22 ¥194

-4.10%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$16.2K ¥2.6M

43.05%

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

$18.6K ¥3.0M

$15.9K ¥2.5M

16.94%

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

$142 ¥22.7K

$162 ¥26.0K

-12.80%

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

$28.10 ¥4,495

$26.95 ¥4,310

4.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.65 ¥5,542

$33.37 ¥5,337

3.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$60.1 ¥9,609

-7.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,232

$10.25 ¥1,640

36.20%

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 ¥2,162

$13.02 ¥2,082

3.76%

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

$283 ¥45.2K

$86.1 ¥13.8K

228.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$15.5K ¥2.5M

-10.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 ¥6,777

$41.76 ¥6,679

1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ¥4,693

$21.15 ¥3,384

38.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,698

$37.60 ¥6,014

61.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ¥17.6K

$56.9 ¥9,097

93.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 ¥134.3K

$388 ¥62.1K

116.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 ¥76.9K

$279 ¥44.7K

72.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 ¥207.0K

$851 ¥136.0K

52.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥137.9K

$665 ¥106.4K

29.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,268 ¥1.0M

$4,514 ¥722.1K

38.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,500 ¥719.8K

$2,332 ¥373.0K

92.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,672 ¥427.5K

$1,234 ¥197.5K

116.48%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Niigata: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Yokohama and $388 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 116% 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 $49.00 in Niigata. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $282, 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 25% in total monthly costs ($1,401 vs $1,122 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Yokohama pays 116% more on average, 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: $839 in Yokohama versus $388 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,401 per month in Yokohama versus $1,122 in Niigata – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Niigata runs roughly 1% less than in Yokohama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,401 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 25% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.