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Akita

秋田県

At a Glance

Monthly Cost
¥352,688≈ $2,351/mo
Avg Rent (1K)
¥31,000/month
Avg Income
270万円/year
Vacant Houses
16.3%vacancy rate
Foreign Community
SmallSmall
Nomad Score
1/5
Safety
Very Safe
Affordability
89/100Very Affordable

Higher cost area, driven by agriculture (rice) & forestry, tight-knit local community.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living

¥352,688

≈ $2,351 USD / month

8% cheaper than national average

Budget

¥246,882

Minimal spending, shared housing, cooking at home

Moderate

¥352,688

Average lifestyle, own apartment, occasional dining

Comfortable

¥493,763

Spacious flat, dining out often, leisure activities

Monthly Spending Breakdown

Other
¥205,99258.4%
Food & Groceries
¥60,63617.2%
Transportation
¥35,76610.1%
Utilities
¥18,4055.2%
Entertainment
¥15,6404.4%
Healthcare
¥7,8882.2%
Clothing
¥4,6991.3%
Housing & Rent
¥2,6570.8%
Education
¥1,0050.3%

Price Details

Individual item prices in Akita, sourced from e-Stat government data. Prices are in JPY.

Other(4 items)
Total Consumption Expenditure¥313,631
Other Consumption Expenditure¥40,446
Furniture & Household Utensils¥15,362
Retail Price Index(index)¥5,092
Food & Groceries(4 items)
Food¥101,350
Rice (Koshihikari)¥5,092
Food (average)¥3,408
Bread (white)¥397
Transportation(1 items)
Transportation & Communication¥65,029
Utilities(1 items)
Fuel, Light & Water Charges¥33,464
Entertainment(1 items)
Culture & Recreation¥28,437
Healthcare(1 items)
Medical Care¥14,342
Clothing(1 items)
Clothing & Footwear¥8,543
Housing & Rent(1 items)
Housing¥4,831
Education(1 items)
Education¥1,827

Foreign Community in Akita

Small Community4,800 foreign residents (0.5% of population)+7.5% growth

Top Nationalities

Vietnamese
Chinese
Filipino

Source: Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) end-of-2023 statistics. A larger foreign community often means more multilingual services, international shops, and established support networks for newcomers.

Lifestyle Profile

Top Industries

Agriculture (rice)ForestryMining heritageSake brewing

Local Specialties

Akita Komachi riceKiritanpo (rice stick hotpot)Inaniwa udonAkita sake

Lifestyle

Japan's best riceExcellent sakeVery affordableStrong traditionsAging population

Events & Festivals

Aug

Akita Kanto Matsuri

Performers balance long bamboo poles with 46 lanterns

Dec-Feb

Namahage Festival

Demon-masked figures visit homes in traditional folklore ritual

Digital Nomad Score

1/5 — Limited

Based on coworking availability, internet speed, and cafe culture.

Entrepreneur Score

1/5 — Limited

Based on startup ecosystem, business support, and market access.

Outdoor & Activities

SkiingHot springsHikingFishing

Climate

Heavy snow in winter, especially inland. Warm, humid summers. Sea of Japan climate.

Foreign Community

Community SizeSmall
English Friendliness
1/5

Economic & Investment Profile

Investment Signal: Declining

Japan's fastest-declining population; very affordable housing; renewable energy sector growing.

Economic Overview

GDP

¥3.5T

-0.5% YoY

GDP per Capita

¥3.6M

Avg. Income

265万円

≈ ¥2,650,000/yr

Unemployment

3.2%

Above national avg

Startup Rate

2.8%

Below average

Real Estate Market

Avg. Rent (1K)

¥28,000

/month

Avg. Rent (2LDK)

¥45,000

/month

Land Price Trend

-2.0%

YoY change

Vacant House Rate

16.8%

Above national avg (13.6%)

Demographics

Population Trend

↓ Declining

-1.6% YoY

Foreign Residents

4,800

+7.5% growth

Top Nationalities

1.Vietnamese2.Chinese3.Filipino

Key Metrics at a Glance

GDP¥3.5T
GDP Growth-0.5%
Average Income265\u4E07\u5186
Land Price Change-2.0%
Vacant Houses16.8%
Foreign Residents4,800
Startup Rate2.8%

Sources: Cabinet Office (GDP), Ministry of Internal Affairs (population), Immigration Services Agency (foreign residents), MLIT (land prices, housing survey), National Tax Agency (income). Data from 2022-2024 publications.

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Cities & Municipalities (0)

No city data available for this prefecture yet. Data coming soon.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Akita?

The estimated monthly cost of living in Akita for a single person is approximately ¥352,688 (≈ $2,351 USD). This includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and other daily expenses based on government survey data.

What are specific item prices in Akita?

The Price Details section below shows individual item prices in Akita, grouped by category (food, housing, utilities, etc.). You can see exactly how much everyday items like rice, eggs, milk, and transit passes cost, sourced directly from Japan's e-Stat government data.

Is Akita expensive compared to other prefectures?

Akita is approximately 8% cheaper than the national average, making it one of the more affordable prefectures in Japan.