Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Otsu

For one person, living is cheaper in Otsu: $1,297 a month against $1,340 in Yokohama, rent and utilities included – about $520 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Yokohama outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Yokohama, Japan
Otsu, Japan
Yokohama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,340
/mo nomad
Otsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,297
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yokohama and in Otsu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Yokohama and in Otsu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,340 in Yokohama versus $1,297 in Otsu.

  • Yokohama $1,340
  • Otsu $1,297

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Yokohama versus $1,890 in Otsu.

  • Yokohama $2,054
  • Otsu $1,890

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,768 in Yokohama versus $2,482 in Otsu.

  • Yokohama $2,768
  • Otsu $2,482

Living in Yokohama is roughly 3% more expensive than in Otsu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yokohama 2% lower, Otsu 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.45 ¥1,019
$8.43 ¥1,331
-23.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.72 ¥6,431
$31.93 ¥5,043
27.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.19 ¥820
$5.13 ¥810
1.17%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ¥538
$3.12 ¥494
9.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ¥167
$1.18 ¥187
-10.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ¥116
$0.90 ¥142
-17.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 ¥410
$3.19 ¥504
-18.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ¥489
$4.51 ¥712
-31.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ¥231
$1.53 ¥242
-4.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 ¥277
$1.55 ¥245
12.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 ¥567
$4.52 ¥714
-20.58%
Eggs
$2.03 ¥320
$2.14 ¥338
-5.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.26 ¥1,620
$15.67 ¥2,475
-34.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.14 ¥970
$6.88 ¥1,086
-10.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.66 ¥2,315
$17.21 ¥2,718
-14.82%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 ¥876
$4.95 ¥782
11.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 ¥437
$2.49 ¥393
10.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 ¥467
$4.97 ¥785
-40.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 ¥648
$4.42 ¥698
-7.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 ¥398
$2.20 ¥348
14.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 ¥407
$1.87 ¥295
37.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ¥205
$1.19 ¥187
9.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥121
$0.87 ¥137
-11.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 ¥617
$3.97 ¥627
-1.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.30 ¥995
$9.69 ¥1,530
-34.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ¥288
$2.06 ¥326
-11.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ¥331
$2.19 ¥345
-4.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ¥217
$1.49 ¥235
-8.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.4 ¥9,859
$57.5 ¥9,080
8.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ¥491
$3.26 ¥514
-4.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 ¥420
$2.85 ¥450
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.61 ¥3,255
$28.41 ¥4,486
-27.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ¥169
$1.12 ¥177
-4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ¥3.4M
$22.2K ¥3.5M
-2.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K ¥2.5M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 ¥20.6K
$118 ¥18.6K
10.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.74 ¥3,907
$23.18 ¥3,661
6.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.65 ¥5,157
$30.70 ¥4,849
6.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.93 ¥7,727
$50.9 ¥8,042
-3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.78 ¥1,860
$9.46 ¥1,494
24.52%
Cinema Ticket
$13.09 ¥2,068
$12.85 ¥2,029
1.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$805 ¥127.2K
$700 ¥110.6K
14.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ¥2.4M
$12.6K ¥2.0M
18.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ¥9,736
$55.5 ¥8,766
11.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.72 ¥5,958
$36.05 ¥5,693
4.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.6 ¥9,890
$69.5 ¥11.0K
-9.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥16.1K
$97.1 ¥15.3K
4.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,097 ¥173.2K
$443 ¥69.9K
147.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$450 ¥71.0K
$366 ¥57.9K
22.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,796 ¥283.7K
$623 ¥98.4K
188.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$805 ¥127.1K
$461 ¥72.9K
74.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,778 ¥912.5K
$4,199 ¥663.1K
37.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,066 ¥642.1K
$2,274 ¥359.2K
78.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yokohama
Otsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,669 ¥421.6K
$1,818 ¥287.0K
46.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.64
2.1
25.71%

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

Last update for Yokohama: October 27, 2026

Last update for Otsu: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yokohama
$450
Otsu
$366 18.5% $83
Groceries & Markets
Yokohama
$290
Otsu
$332 14.5% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yokohama
$188
Otsu
$172 8.6% $16
Eating Out
Yokohama
$134
Otsu
$154 14.2% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Yokohama
$119
Otsu
$116 2.1% $2.5
Getting Around
Yokohama
$84
Otsu
$81 4% $3.4
Sport & Entertainment
Yokohama
$75
Otsu
$77 2% $1.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,097 in Yokohama and $443 in Otsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 47% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $41 in Yokohama vs $32 in Otsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $332, with Yokohama cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Yokohama
🇯🇵 Otsu
🕒 Local time
02:33 2:33 AM
02:33 2:33 AM
Same time as Yokohama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,777,491
341,314
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yokohama Otsu 350 km
From you
  • Yokohama
  • Otsu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Otsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yokohama or Otsu?
Otsu wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Yokohama. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Otsu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Yokohama or in Otsu?
Average pay runs 47% higher in Yokohama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Yokohama compared to Otsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,097 in Yokohama versus $443 in Otsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Yokohama and in Otsu?
Childcare runs $805 in Yokohama versus $700 in Otsu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Yokohama or in Otsu?
Shoppers in Yokohama pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Yokohama or in Otsu?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Otsu is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Yokohama or Otsu?
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.
How safe is Yokohama compared to Otsu?
Safety-wise, Yokohama and Otsu are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Yokohama or to Otsu?
It comes down to priorities – Otsu wins on affordability, Yokohama on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Yokohama vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?