Japan's cost of living varies dramatically by prefecture. Here are the most expensive places to live, ranked by monthly expenses using official government household survey data.
National average: ¥385,425 ($2,569) / month
千葉県 · kanto
31.0% above the national average. You pay ¥119,398 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥504,823
$3,365/mo
埼玉県 · kanto
18.2% above the national average. You pay ¥70,068 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥455,493
$3,037/mo
栃木県 · kanto
16.3% above the national average. You pay ¥62,957 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥448,382
$2,989/mo
広島県 · chugoku
15.9% above the national average. You pay ¥61,388 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥446,812
$2,979/mo
鳥取県 · chugoku
14.9% above the national average. You pay ¥57,405 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥442,829
$2,952/mo
東京都 · kanto
11.8% above the national average. You pay ¥45,346 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥430,771
$2,872/mo
新潟県 · chubu
11.7% above the national average. You pay ¥45,174 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥430,598
$2,871/mo
富山県 · chubu
9.7% above the national average. You pay ¥37,494 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥422,919
$2,819/mo
長野県 · chubu
7.8% above the national average. You pay ¥30,125 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥415,550
$2,770/mo
愛媛県 · shikoku
7.1% above the national average. You pay ¥27,511 more per month compared to the average prefecture.
¥412,936
$2,753/mo
For comparison, here are the 5 most affordable prefectures in Japan:
| # | Prefecture | Monthly Cost | vs Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okinawa 沖縄県 | ¥305,570 | -20.7% |
| 2 | Mie 三重県 | ¥317,942 | -17.5% |
| 3 | Oita 大分県 | ¥322,929 | -16.2% |
| 4 | Saga 佐賀県 | ¥333,131 | -13.6% |
| 5 | Kyoto 京都府 | ¥340,759 | -11.6% |
Japan's most expensive prefectures tend to be major metropolitan areas or regions with limited housing supply. Tokyo, as the capital and economic center, consistently tops the list due to high rent and food costs. Other expensive areas include Kanagawa (home to Yokohama), and prefectures in the Kanto region that serve as commuter zones for Tokyo.
However, "expensive" doesn't always mean unaffordable. Higher costs often come with higher salaries, better job opportunities, and more amenities. Use our Salary Calculator to see how your income compares to the cost of living in each prefecture.