Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Wakayama Cost of Living Comparison Between Yokohama and Wakayama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,401 per month in Yokohama vs $1,344 in Wakayama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,170 per month in Yokohama vs $2,118 in Wakayama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,940 per month in Yokohama vs $2,893 in Wakayama, rent included.

Yokohama costs about 4% more than Wakayama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yokohama and Wakayama sit above the global median – Yokohama by 5%, Wakayama by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 ¥1,100

$6.98 ¥1,116

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.57 ¥6,648

$35.10 ¥5,614

18.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 ¥901

$6.27 ¥1,003

-10.21%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ¥514

$3.07 ¥491

4.56%

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

$1.19 ¥191

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥119

$0.76 ¥122

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ¥341

$3.38 ¥541

-36.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ¥487

$2.06 ¥329

47.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.69 ¥270

-11.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 ¥282

$1.80 ¥288

-2.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 ¥793

$5.10 ¥817

-2.75%

Eggs

$2.30 ¥368

$2.55 ¥408

-9.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 ¥1,630

$17.23 ¥2,756

-40.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ¥1,018

$7.43 ¥1,189

-14.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 ¥2,472

$15.25 ¥2,439

1.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 ¥974

$8.90 ¥1,424

-31.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ¥501

$2.80 ¥448

11.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 ¥658

$4.88 ¥781

-15.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 ¥957

$9.57 ¥1,531

-37.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ¥543

$3.99 ¥638

-14.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 ¥682

$2.61 ¥417

63.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥213

$1.34 ¥214

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥142

$1.40 ¥224

-36.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 ¥678

$3.46 ¥553

22.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 ¥1,026

$9.17 ¥1,467

-30.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥284

$2.86 ¥458

-38.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥328

$2.27 ¥363

-9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.55 ¥248

$1.66 ¥266

-6.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 ¥8,716

$55.0 ¥8,800

-0.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ¥557

$3.43 ¥548

1.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.76 ¥441

$2.95 ¥472

-6.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 ¥3,581

$17.57 ¥2,810

27.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥188

$1.24 ¥198

-5.65%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-0.03%

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

$18.6K ¥3.0M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

9.70%

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

$142 ¥22.7K

$138 ¥22.1K

2.30%

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

$28.10 ¥4,495

$26.81 ¥4,289

4.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.65 ¥5,542

$34.21 ¥5,472

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$55.9 ¥8,938

-0.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,232

$13.65 ¥2,183

2.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 ¥2,162

$12.47 ¥1,994

8.34%

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

$283 ¥45.2K

$474 ¥75.8K

-40.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$11.3K ¥1.8M

21.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 ¥6,777

$46.82 ¥7,488

-9.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ¥4,693

$32.66 ¥5,224

-10.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,698

$55.8 ¥8,929

8.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ¥17.6K

$91.1 ¥14.6K

20.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 ¥134.3K

$462 ¥73.9K

81.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 ¥76.9K

$325 ¥52.0K

47.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 ¥207.0K

$859 ¥137.4K

50.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥137.9K

$652 ¥104.3K

32.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,268 ¥1.0M

$4,458 ¥713.1K

40.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,500 ¥719.8K

$2,039 ¥326.2K

120.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,672 ¥427.5K

$3,832 ¥612.9K

-30.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.67

22.75%

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

Last update for Yokohama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Wakayama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $839 in Yokohama versus $462 in Wakayama. 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 43% higher in Wakayama, 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 $42.00 in Yokohama versus $35.00 in Wakayama. Groceries tell a different story – $327 in Yokohama vs $405 in Wakayama – so Yokohama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Wakayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Yokohama is pricier by about 4%, 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 $2,101 per month in Yokohama and $2,015 in Wakayama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Yokohama – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Yokohama and $35.00 in Wakayama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Wakayama, where all-in costs run around $1,344, than in Yokohama at $1,401. In Wakayama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wakayama – 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 Wakayama. 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.