Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Saitama Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Saitama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,440 per month in Yokohama vs $1,127 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,182 per month in Yokohama vs $1,830 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,924 per month in Yokohama vs $2,533 in Saitama, rent included.

Yokohama costs about 28% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Yokohama sits 8% above the global median, while Saitama is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ¥1,158

$5.87 ¥955

21.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ¥6,687

$34.39 ¥5,590

19.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 ¥905

$4.98 ¥810

11.85%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥519

$3.08 ¥500

3.90%

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

$1.17 ¥189

$0.71 ¥115

64.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$0.74 ¥121

9.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥342

$2.03 ¥329

3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥500

$3.04 ¥495

1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥254

$1.51 ¥245

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.66 ¥270

0.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.99 ¥811

$2.94 ¥477

69.73%

Eggs

$2.27 ¥369

$2.23 ¥363

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ¥1,655

$10.20 ¥1,658

-0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 ¥1,008

$5.91 ¥960

4.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 ¥2,538

$15.52 ¥2,523

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥989

$5.95 ¥968

2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ¥504

$1.34 ¥218

131.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 ¥640

$3.90 ¥634

1.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 ¥985

$5.91 ¥960

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$3.24 ¥526

4.63%

Onion (1kg)

$4.25 ¥690

$1.76 ¥286

141.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥216

$1.34 ¥218

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.81 ¥132

8.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ¥667

$4.06 ¥660

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.15 ¥1,162

$8.17 ¥1,328

-12.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥295

$1.77 ¥287

2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥334

$2.03 ¥329

1.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.68 ¥273

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,841

$54.8 ¥8,907

-0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥550

$3.44 ¥558

-1.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ¥427

$2.87 ¥466

-8.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.83 ¥3,548

$21.85 ¥3,552

-0.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥201

$1.18 ¥192

4.24%

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-0.39%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

-0.08%

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

$144 ¥23.4K

$141 ¥22.9K

2.01%

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

$27.88 ¥4,531

$19.47 ¥3,164

43.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.38 ¥5,424

$34.15 ¥5,551

-2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ¥8,914

$69.2 ¥11.2K

-20.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ¥2,230

$13.76 ¥2,236

-0.29%

Cinema Ticket

$13.92 ¥2,262

$11.91 ¥1,936

16.88%

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

$285 ¥46.2K

$283 ¥46.1K

0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.99 ¥6,824

$37.81 ¥6,145

11.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 ¥4,784

$28.07 ¥4,562

4.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ¥9,611

$59.9 ¥9,727

-1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ¥17.8K

$68.7 ¥11.2K

59.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.4K

$428 ¥69.6K

93.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ¥77.2K

$259 ¥42.0K

83.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 ¥206.1K

$877 ¥142.6K

44.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 ¥135.5K

$656 ¥106.5K

27.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,106 ¥992.3K

$4,887 ¥794.2K

24.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,409 ¥716.5K

$2,152 ¥349.8K

104.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,612 ¥424.6K

$1,474 ¥239.6K

77.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.86

10.22%

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

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Saitama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $827 in Yokohama versus $428 in Saitama. 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 77% 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 Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $300 – making Saitama 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 Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Yokohama is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,160 per month in Yokohama and $1,691 in Saitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Yokohama and $283 in Saitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Yokohama at $1,440. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Saitama. 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.