Cost of Living

Kyoto, Japan

Live cost-of-living data for Kyoto — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
36/ 10064% cheaper than New York
$1,950/mo
Median Income
86/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
60/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$500/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$380/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$900/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.35/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.6/kg
Transportation
45/100
Monthly Transit Pass$65/month
One-Way Ticket$1.7/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.45/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$140/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$28/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$65/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
60/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
52/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
55/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$38/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.8/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$8/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7/meal
Childcare
62/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$13/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
50/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$42/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

100 Mbps
Internet Speed
$180
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Nakagyo-ku (Kawaramachi), Sakyo-ku (Okazaki), Higashiyama-ku (Gion)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kyoto cheap to live in?

Kyoto has a cost of living index of 36/100, where New York = 100. It is 64% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,300–$1,820 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kyoto?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kyoto costs approximately $500/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $380/month.

Is Kyoto good for digital nomads?

Kyoto has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 100 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $180/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Kyoto?

The median net monthly salary in Kyoto is approximately $1,950 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Kyoto compare to New York for cost of living?

Kyoto (cost index 36) is 64% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,600/month by moving from New York to Kyoto.

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