Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Sapporo Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Sapporo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,422 per month in Yokohama vs $1,480 in Sapporo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,170 per month in Yokohama vs $2,109 in Sapporo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,918 per month in Yokohama vs $2,738 in Sapporo, rent included.

Yokohama is about 4% cheaper than Sapporo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yokohama and Sapporo sit above the global median – Yokohama by 6%, Sapporo by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 ¥1,102

$9.61 ¥1,539

-28.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.10 ¥6,579

$27.68 ¥4,430

48.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥868

$5.28 ¥846

2.65%

Cappuccino

$3.14 ¥502

$3.77 ¥603

-16.71%

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

$1.15 ¥184

$0.97 ¥155

18.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.83 ¥133

-9.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 ¥335

$3.50 ¥561

-40.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ¥488

$6.31 ¥1,010

-51.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥250

$1.50 ¥241

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 ¥271

$1.34 ¥214

26.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 ¥792

$7.23 ¥1,158

-31.54%

Eggs

$2.29 ¥366

$1.84 ¥295

24.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 ¥1,596

$8.47 ¥1,356

17.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 ¥1,016

$7.07 ¥1,133

-10.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 ¥2,473

$20.76 ¥3,324

-25.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.18 ¥990

$3.54 ¥567

74.58%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 ¥502

$2.98 ¥478

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 ¥638

$4.18 ¥670

-4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 ¥969

$3.91 ¥625

54.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 ¥536

$2.80 ¥448

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$4.29 ¥687

$2.18 ¥349

96.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.53 ¥245

-12.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥143

$0.91 ¥146

-2.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 ¥664

$3.12 ¥499

33.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 ¥1,010

$8.00 ¥1,280

-21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ¥293

$2.03 ¥325

-9.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥329

$3.42 ¥547

-40.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 ¥249

$1.68 ¥269

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 ¥8,938

$52.6 ¥8,416

6.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 ¥570

$4.76 ¥761

-25.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 ¥423

$1.71 ¥273

54.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.08 ¥3,534

$20.98 ¥3,358

5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥198

$1.22 ¥196

0.82%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$35.2K ¥5.6M

-34.17%

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

$18.5K ¥3.0M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

9.82%

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

$145 ¥23.2K

$310 ¥49.7K

-53.32%

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

$27.62 ¥4,421

$28.23 ¥4,519

-2.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.00 ¥5,444

$42.91 ¥6,869

-20.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.1 ¥8,814

$54.3 ¥8,697

1.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.91 ¥2,227

$11.62 ¥1,861

19.71%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 ¥2,164

$13.01 ¥2,082

3.92%

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

$285 ¥45.7K

$274 ¥43.8K

4.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K ¥2.2M

$11.0K ¥1.8M

23.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.28 ¥6,608

$41.49 ¥6,642

-0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.93 ¥4,791

$28.08 ¥4,495

6.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,696

$51.0 ¥8,164

18.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ¥18.1K

$126 ¥20.2K

-10.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ¥132.7K

$530 ¥84.8K

56.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$484 ¥77.5K

$306 ¥49.0K

58.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 ¥204.5K

$736 ¥117.8K

73.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$866 ¥138.6K

$557 ¥89.2K

55.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,106 ¥977.4K

$2,219 ¥355.2K

175.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,173 ¥668.1K

$1,575 ¥252.1K

165.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,623 ¥419.9K

$1,726 ¥276.4K

51.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.83

12.02%

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

Last update for Yokohama: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sapporo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $829 in Yokohama versus $530 in Sapporo. 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 52% higher in Yokohama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Yokohama versus $28.00 in Sapporo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $322 – making Sapporo 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 Sapporo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sapporo is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,133 per month in Yokohama and $2,220 in Sapporo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Yokohama and $28.00 in Sapporo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,422 in Yokohama and $1,480 in Sapporo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yokohama, where all-in costs run around $1,422, than in Sapporo at $1,480. In Yokohama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sapporo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yokohama – 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 Yokohama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sapporo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.