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Hyogo

兵庫県

At a Glance

Monthly Cost
¥385,038≈ $2,567/mo
Avg Rent (1K)
¥48,000/month
Avg Income
340万円/year
Vacant Houses
13.4%vacancy rate
Foreign Community
LargeLarge
Nomad Score
4/5
Safety
Safe
Affordability
82/100Very Affordable

Higher cost area, driven by manufacturing (steel) & tourism, large international community.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living

¥385,038

≈ $2,567 USD / month

0% cheaper than national average

Budget

¥269,527

Minimal spending, shared housing, cooking at home

Moderate

¥385,038

Average lifestyle, own apartment, occasional dining

Comfortable

¥539,053

Spacious flat, dining out often, leisure activities

Monthly Spending Breakdown

Other
¥218,98656.9%
Food & Groceries
¥68,40817.8%
Transportation
¥44,11511.5%
Entertainment
¥19,3915.0%
Utilities
¥10,1502.6%
Clothing
¥7,4581.9%
Housing & Rent
¥6,6551.7%
Healthcare
¥6,3071.6%
Education
¥3,5680.9%

Price Details

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

Other(3 items)
Total Consumption Expenditure¥344,811
Other Consumption Expenditure¥44,344
Furniture & Household Utensils¥9,001
Food & Groceries(3 items)
Food¥113,931
Rice (Koshihikari)¥5,235
Food (average)¥5,212
Transportation(1 items)
Transportation & Communication¥80,209
Entertainment(1 items)
Culture & Recreation¥35,257
Utilities(1 items)
Fuel, Light & Water Charges¥18,455
Clothing(1 items)
Clothing & Footwear¥13,560
Housing & Rent(1 items)
Housing¥12,100
Healthcare(1 items)
Medical Care¥11,467
Education(1 items)
Education¥6,487

Foreign Community in Hyogo

Large Community115,000 foreign residents (2.1% of population)+10% growth

Top Nationalities

Korean
Vietnamese
Chinese

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

Manufacturing (steel)TourismSake brewing (Nada)Fashion (Kobe)Port logistics

Local Specialties

Kobe beefAkashiyakiNada sakeArima onsen senbeiIcandy sweets (Kobe)

Lifestyle

Cosmopolitan KobeHimeji Castle (UNESCO)Mountain-to-sea lifestyleInternational port city

Events & Festivals

Dec

Kobe Luminarie

Stunning light festival commemorating the 1995 earthquake

Apr

Himeji Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing

1,000 cherry trees around Japan's most iconic castle

Digital Nomad Score

4/5 — Very Good

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

Entrepreneur Score

3/5 — Good

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

Outdoor & Activities

Hiking (Rokko Mountain)Beach activitiesHot springs (Arima/Kinosaki)Cycling

Climate

Mild Seto Inland Sea climate. Warm winters near the coast. Cool mountain retreats nearby.

Foreign Community

Community SizeLarge
English Friendliness
3/5

Future Events & Business Opportunities

Investment Highlight

Kobe's world-class biomedical cluster and ongoing Sannomiya redevelopment offer opportunities in life sciences, medical tourism, and urban renewal.

2027

Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster Expansion

BusinessMedium Impact

Kobe's biomedical innovation cluster in Port Island continues expanding, attracting pharmaceutical companies and medical device startups. The cluster houses iPS cell research facilities and clinical trial centers.

Business Opportunity

Life science startups, medical device companies, and pharmaceutical services. Growing demand for bilingual medical professionals and research support.

Infrastructure Projects

  • Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster expansion
  • Sannomiya Station area redevelopment

Special Economic Zones & Hubs

  • Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC)

Economic & Investment Profile

Investment Signal: Growing

Kobe biomedical cluster; port logistics hub; affordable alternative to Osaka; steady recovery.

Economic Overview

GDP

¥21.5T

+0.9% YoY

GDP per Capita

¥3.9M

Avg. Income

350万円

≈ ¥3,500,000/yr

Unemployment

2.7%

Near national avg

Startup Rate

4.0%

Moderate

Real Estate Market

Avg. Rent (1K)

¥42,000

/month

Avg. Rent (2LDK)

¥72,000

/month

Land Price Trend

+1.2%

YoY change

Vacant House Rate

13.4%

Below national avg (13.6%)

Demographics

Population Trend

↓ Declining

-0.4% YoY

Foreign Residents

115,000

+10.0% growth

Top Nationalities

1.Korean2.Vietnamese3.Chinese

Key Metrics at a Glance

GDP¥21.5T
GDP Growth+0.9%
Average Income350\u4E07\u5186
Land Price Change+1.2%
Vacant Houses13.4%
Foreign Residents115,000
Startup Rate4.0%

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.

International Schools in Hyogo

3

Annual tuition fees for international schools in Hyogo, sorted from most affordable to highest. Fees are approximate and may vary by grade level; check each school's website for current rates.

¥1,200,000 - ¥1,500,000

per year

BritishPreK-6
English|CIS

Primary school only. Anglican heritage. One of Kobe's oldest international schools.

¥1,300,000 - ¥1,800,000

per year

AmericanK-12
English|WASC

Catholic school. US-accredited. Known for strong community and affordable tuition for Kobe.

Canadian Academy

Rokko Island, Kobe

¥2,000,000 - ¥2,600,000

per year

IBCanadianPreK-12
English|IBOWASCCIS

Founded 1913. Full IB World School. Boarding available. On Rokko Island with mountain/sea views.

Find an Apartment in Hyogo

Search English-friendly property sites with listings in Hyogo.

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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 Hyogo?

The estimated monthly cost of living in Hyogo for a single person is approximately ¥385,038 (≈ $2,567 USD). This includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and other daily expenses based on government survey data.

What are specific item prices in Hyogo?

The Price Details section below shows individual item prices in Hyogo, 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 Hyogo expensive compared to other prefectures?

Hyogo is approximately 0% cheaper than the national average, making it one of the more affordable prefectures in Japan.