Cost of Living

Tokyo, Japan

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

CheapestNew York = 100
36/ 10064% cheaper than New York
-26% rent since Jul 2026
$2,676/mo
Median Income
92/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
temperate
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
68/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$870/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$480/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,840/month
Food & Groceries
42/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.7/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$3.2/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$80/month
One-Way Ticket$1.6/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$135/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
70/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$65/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
65/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$600/course
Entertainment
58/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$13/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
60/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$70/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$95/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$38/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.5/bottle
Dining Out
48/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5.1/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$650/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

85 Mbps
Internet Speed
$200
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
80/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Setagaya

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tokyo cheap to live in?

Tokyo 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 Tokyo?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Tokyo costs approximately $870/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $480/month.

Is Tokyo good for digital nomads?

Tokyo has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 85 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $200/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Tokyo?

The median net monthly salary in Tokyo is approximately $2,676 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

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

Tokyo (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 Tokyo.

Compare Tokyo with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Tokyo wins or loses.

Cities that cost about the same as Tokyo

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Compare Tokyo with another city

See exactly how Tokyo stacks up against your current city or next destination.

Free to start · No credit card needed