Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Tsukuba Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Tsukuba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,440 in Yokohama versus $1,155 in Tsukuba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,182 in Yokohama versus $1,866 in Tsukuba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,924 in Yokohama versus $2,577 in Tsukuba.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Yokohama is 8% above, Tsukuba is 14% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ¥1,158

$4.12 ¥669

73.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ¥6,685

$36.67 ¥5,958

12.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 ¥905

$5.71 ¥928

-2.45%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥519

$2.82 ¥457

13.48%

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

$1.17 ¥189

$0.89 ¥145

31.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$0.75 ¥121

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥342

$1.92 ¥312

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥500

$3.10 ¥503

-0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥254

$1.57 ¥255

-0.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.74 ¥283

-4.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.99 ¥811

$2.48 ¥402

101.21%

Eggs

$2.27 ¥369

$2.22 ¥360

2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ¥1,654

$8.07 ¥1,312

26.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 ¥1,007

$6.10 ¥992

1.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 ¥2,537

$11.17 ¥1,814

39.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥989

$5.85 ¥950

4.10%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ¥504

$3.09 ¥503

0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 ¥640

$3.96 ¥643

-0.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 ¥985

$2.10 ¥341

188.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$3.23 ¥524

4.95%

Onion (1kg)

$4.25 ¥690

$3.42 ¥556

24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥216

$1.07 ¥174

24.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.83 ¥136

6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ¥667

$3.89 ¥633

5.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.15 ¥1,162

$8.99 ¥1,460

-20.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥295

$1.81 ¥293

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥334

$2.13 ¥346

-3.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 ¥250

$2.49 ¥405

-38.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,839

$54.5 ¥8,851

-0.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥550

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ¥427

$2.96 ¥481

-11.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.83 ¥3,547

$22.57 ¥3,668

-3.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥201

$1.22 ¥199

0.82%

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$22.0K ¥3.6M

6.56%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

$15.1K ¥2.5M

20.23%

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

$144 ¥23.4K

$143 ¥23.2K

0.65%

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

$27.88 ¥4,530

$27.48 ¥4,464

1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.38 ¥5,423

$34.06 ¥5,534

-2.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ¥8,911

$59.5 ¥9,670

-7.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ¥2,230

$14.00 ¥2,275

-2.00%

Cinema Ticket

$13.92 ¥2,261

$13.76 ¥2,236

1.16%

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

$285 ¥46.2K

$141 ¥22.9K

101.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$12.1K ¥2.0M

13.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.99 ¥6,822

$40.95 ¥6,654

2.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 ¥4,783

$29.33 ¥4,765

0.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ¥9,608

$41.63 ¥6,764

42.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ¥17.8K

$96.3 ¥15.6K

13.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.4K

$518 ¥84.1K

59.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ¥77.2K

$316 ¥51.4K

50.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 ¥206.1K

$1,186 ¥192.8K

6.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 ¥135.5K

$692 ¥112.4K

20.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,106 ¥992.0K

$3,959 ¥643.2K

54.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,409 ¥716.3K

$2,109 ¥342.7K

108.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,612 ¥424.4K

$1,395 ¥226.6K

87.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

2.50%

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

Last update for Yokohama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tsukuba: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Yokohama and $518 in Tsukuba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays 87% 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 $37.00 in Tsukuba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $276 per month, with Tsukuba cheaper across the board.

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 Tsukuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yokohama and Tsukuba differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,440 vs $1,155 including rent). Tsukuba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 87% 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 $518 in Tsukuba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tsukuba – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $41.00 in Yokohama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,440 per month in Yokohama versus $1,155 in Tsukuba – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,155 in Tsukuba versus $1,440 in Yokohama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tsukuba but tight or insufficient in Yokohama. The gap between the two cities makes Tsukuba 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 Tsukuba 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 Tsukuba 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.