Cost of Living in Japan - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Japan
Address: JP

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $825 (excluding rent), and $1,422 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,957 (excluding rent), and $2,939 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.86 ¥1,086

$4.47 ¥707

$10.99 ¥1,738

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.10 ¥5,394

$24.55 ¥3,883

$81.8 ¥12.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥862

$4.76 ¥753

$6.13 ¥969

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥539

$1.50 ¥237

$5.13 ¥811

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

$1.12 ¥177

$0.77 ¥121

$2.10 ¥332

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥132

$0.71 ¥113

$1.43 ¥227

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 ¥556

$1.75 ¥277

$5.62 ¥890

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 ¥650

$2.40 ¥379

$6.84 ¥1,082

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥238

$1.13 ¥179

$2.03 ¥321

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ¥240

$0.87 ¥138

$2.69 ¥426

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 ¥720

$2.05 ¥324

$7.24 ¥1,146

Eggs

$2.17 ¥343

$1.56 ¥247

$2.99 ¥473

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 ¥1,920

$5.53 ¥874

$27.61 ¥4,368

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 ¥1,053

$3.39 ¥536

$10.16 ¥1,607

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 ¥3,031

$9.58 ¥1,515

$34.21 ¥5,411

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 ¥829

$2.47 ¥391

$10.29 ¥1,628

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ¥414

$1.41 ¥223

$5.63 ¥890

Oranges (1kg)

$4.72 ¥746

$1.72 ¥272

$10.32 ¥1,633

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 ¥753

$2.04 ¥322

$10.19 ¥1,611

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ¥450

$1.38 ¥219

$4.83 ¥764

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 ¥428

$1.41 ¥224

$5.65 ¥893

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 ¥222

$0.70 ¥111

$2.12 ¥335

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥139

$0.52 ¥82.9

$1.32 ¥209

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 ¥648

$3.56 ¥562

$5.08 ¥804

Wine (Bottle)

$8.39 ¥1,326

$4.35 ¥688

$18.64 ¥2,948

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ¥345

$1.41 ¥223

$3.17 ¥501

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ¥455

$1.71 ¥271

$4.12 ¥651

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 ¥247

$1.27 ¥202

$2.82 ¥447

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 ¥9,311

$34.98 ¥5,532

$119 ¥18.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 ¥644

$3.40 ¥537

$5.16 ¥816

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.99 ¥472

$2.03 ¥321

$4.54 ¥718

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.31 ¥3,688

$17.56 ¥2,777

$34.29 ¥5,424

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥188

$1.10 ¥174

$1.24 ¥196

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$22.5K ¥3.6M

$23.9K ¥3.8M

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

$17.6K ¥2.8M

$16.8K ¥2.6M

$20.5K ¥3.2M

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

$176 ¥27.9K

$105 ¥16.6K

$297 ¥47.0K

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

$27.10 ¥4,286

$14.08 ¥2,227

$46.15 ¥7,299

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.53 ¥5,461

$27.18 ¥4,298

$48.92 ¥7,738

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.3 ¥9,215

$34.33 ¥5,430

$82.4 ¥13.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 ¥2,495

$6.91 ¥1,094

$20.75 ¥3,282

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 ¥2,086

$10.42 ¥1,648

$17.36 ¥2,745

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

$343 ¥54.3K

$192 ¥30.3K

$685 ¥108.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.1M

$8,465 ¥1.3M

$21.2K ¥3.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.18 ¥7,779

$20.91 ¥3,307

$73.2 ¥11.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.11 ¥5,078

$13.69 ¥2,166

$54.8 ¥8,660

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 ¥9,757

$33.99 ¥5,376

$85.0 ¥13.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ¥13.6K

$34.28 ¥5,421

$137 ¥21.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥95.9K

$394 ¥62.3K

$1,266 ¥200.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ¥67.2K

$282 ¥44.6K

$705 ¥111.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 ¥221.2K

$702 ¥111.1K

$3,512 ¥555.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$836 ¥132.2K

$487 ¥77.1K

$1,740 ¥275.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,928 ¥937.6K

$2,453 ¥388.0K

$11.0K ¥1.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,061 ¥484.2K

$1,557 ¥246.3K

$6,228 ¥985.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,973 ¥312.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.82

2.28

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

Last update: January 13, 2026

By City in Japan

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Aichi	-	57	$810	$1,140	$1,610	$2,426	89.28	295.52
2	Akita	307672	63	$723	$1,271	$2,005	$2,646	111.37	215.94
3	Amagasaki	459593	63	$788	$1,234	$1,683	$2,607	261.77	266.6
4	Aomori	275192	63	$752	$1,237	$1,826	$2,616	55.44	197.02
5	Asahikawa	329306	63	$679	$1,246	$1,593	$2,626	213.64	190.21
6	Atsugi	223705	58	$718	$1,167	$1,505	$2,587	33.3	275.78
7	Beppu	115321	53	$689	$1,053	$1,523	$2,098	129.88	132.45
8	Chiba	974951	66	$768	$1,311	$1,891	$2,965	39.61	274.3
9	Ebina	130678	61	$652	$1,189	$1,810	$2,532	55.01	298.53
10	Fukui	267428	62	$815	$1,224	$1,959	$2,666	21.43	218.92
11	Fukuoka	1612392	65	$678	$1,283	$1,859	$2,760	32.59	205.89
12	Fukushima	282693	63	$886	$1,258	$2,082	$2,689	564.95	242.29
13	Fukuyama	460930	61	$815	$1,206	$1,625	$2,566	37.49	167.34
14	Funabashi	627006	60	$885	$1,172	$1,795	$2,568	40.62	323.75
15	Gifu	404352	62	$740	$1,231	$1,603	$2,570	108.19	252.47
16	Gyoda	81582	58	$692	$1,152	$1,904	$2,510	103.96	285.43
17	Hachioji	555517	68	$893	$1,335	$1,982	$2,617	147.26	290.92
18	Hamamatsu	797033	55	$833	$1,104	$2,006	$2,509	88.4	231.54
19	Himeji	535571	65	$778	$1,310	$2,007	$2,753	318.65	210.21
20	Hirakata	402495	60	$829	$1,202	$1,845	$2,526	71.36	308.77
21	Hiratsuka	258422	66	$946	$1,320	$2,155	$2,736	51.57	269.45
22	Hiroshima	1200754	52	$632	$1,020	$1,617	$2,247	261.83	189.58
23	Ibaraki	287730	61	$887	$1,233	$1,651	$2,591	12.2	285.53
24	Ichihara	269524	59	$678	$1,173	$1,657	$2,604	145.41	261.62
25	Ichikawa	496676	59	$662	$1,158	$1,738	$2,606	39.47	316.63
26	Ichinomiya	379728	63	$703	$1,255	$2,018	$2,658	155.72	263.8
27	Itoman	61007	63	$749	$1,255	$1,978	$2,683	176.04	124.29
28	Kagoshima	593128	60	$763	$1,175	$1,638	$2,621	28.54	186.73
29	Kamakura	172710	64	$903	$1,280	$1,743	$2,745	197.79	290.66
30	Kamiyama	5300	62	$754	$1,243	$1,841	$2,629	24.57	72.13
31	Kanazawa	465699	61	$681	$1,223	$1,737	$2,554	103.29	190.54
32	Kashiwa	417394	66	$819	$1,329	$1,746	$2,399	146.63	328.7
33	Kawagoe	350745	62	$781	$1,233	$1,743	$2,761	134.2	311.28
34	Kawasaki	1538262	82	$820	$1,653	$2,342	$3,083	107.43	257.9
35	Kitakyushu	939029	65	$695	$1,277	$1,529	$2,679	84.99	251.76
36	Kobe	1537272	62	$912	$1,240	$1,711	$2,555	106.09	275.87
37	Koriyama	327692	63	$712	$1,235	$1,832	$2,594	164.5	212.07
38	Kumamoto	738865	65	$746	$1,323	$1,842	$2,640	84.22	193.29
39	Kurume	303316	51	$686	$1,022	$1,767	$2,142	44.99	152.32
40	Kyoto	1475183	65	$852	$1,310	$1,865	$3,057	47.7	206.15
41	Maebashi	324644	64	$863	$1,256	$1,778	$2,681	73.78	227.15
42	Matsudo	485803	59	$795	$1,175	$1,594	$2,526	21.11	331.09
43	Matsuyama	511192	63	$696	$1,261	$1,809	$2,654	21.8	124.96
44	Mito	271047	64	$746	$1,263	$2,212	$2,686	90.79	232.75
45	Miyazaki	401339	58	$670	$1,141	$1,825	$2,436	17.21	159.77
46	Morioka	289731	63	$791	$1,253	$1,733	$2,640	41.09	225.24
47	Nagano	372760	58	$722	$1,178	$2,096	$2,627	77.73	199.35
48	Nagasaki	409118	60	$718	$1,216	$1,942	$2,614	97.62	163.94
49	Nago, Okinawa	63554	62	$761	$1,260	$1,837	$2,585	17.96	94.24
50	Nagoya	2236000	69	$815	$1,387	$1,979	$2,899	32.04	223.98

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Japan - Frequently Asked Questions

Japan rewards planning with reliable services and safety, but costs vary by city and neighborhood. You’ll often find Tokyo and Osaka at the higher end, while rural towns and regional cities feel more approachable for longer stays. The best value comes from balancing longer-term housing in modest areas with selective outings and experiences. Public transit is efficient, which helps keep daily expenses predictable, and you can save by choosing practical dining options and seasonal shopping. Cost of Living in Japan provides a realistic frame to compare neighborhoods and plan a budget. Tip: Start with a neighborhood map and test a few transit routes before committing.

Daily life in Japan centers on efficiency and choice, with housing ranging from compact, well-lit apartments to shared housing in popular neighborhoods. In cities, you’ll find diverse food options: fast, affordable konbini meals, home-style comfort at local eateries, and fresh markets for ingredients. Transport is a standout value, thanks to reliable rail and bus networks, plus convenient passes for longer stays. Co-working spaces and cafes provide flexible work setups, while errands benefit from well organized stores and recycling rules. Japan living cost varies by place, so you’ll want a flexible plan that prioritizes transit access and neighborhood feel. Tip: test a few districts during the first week.

Adopt a simple budgeting framework: map essentials, flexible spending, and savings as separate categories, then adjust as you explore different areas. In Japan, your housing will be a major factor, so weigh proximity to transit against space and building age. Choose neighborhoods that suit your rhythm – quiet residential zones for focus, or lively neighborhoods for social life – and use trial stays to feel the vibe across seasons. Seasonality especially affects travel, food markets, and utilities, so build buffers for peak months. Tip: use a transit pass and grocery runs to stabilize weekly costs, and set a reusable shopping list to curb impulse buys.