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
63/ 10037% cheaper than New York
+6% rent since Jul 2026
$2,800/mo
Median Income
88/100
Safety
23%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
72/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,247/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$673/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,100/month
Food & Groceries
48/100
Milk (1 liter)$2.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
42/100
Monthly Transit Pass$70/month
One-Way Ticket$1.5/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.8/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$147/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$42/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$35/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$70/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
60/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$600/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$480/course
Entertainment
58/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$50/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
62/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$75/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$50/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$110/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$25/cut
Haircut (Women)$50/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$43/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
58/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

90 Mbps
Internet Speed
$180
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
78/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tokyo cheap to live in?

Tokyo has a cost of living index of 63/100, where New York = 100. It is 37% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $2,240–$3,136 per month.

How much does rent cost in Tokyo?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Tokyo costs approximately $1,247/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $673/month.

Is Tokyo good for digital nomads?

Tokyo has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 90 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $180/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Tokyo?

The median net monthly salary in Tokyo is approximately $2,800 USD. The income tax rate is around 23%.

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

Tokyo (cost index 63) is 37% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $925/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