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Ishikawa

石川県

At a Glance

Monthly Cost
¥394,356≈ $2,629/mo
Avg Rent (1K)
¥36,000/month
Avg Income
300万円/year
Vacant Houses
14.9%vacancy rate
Foreign Community
SmallSmall
Nomad Score
3/5
Safety
Very Safe
Affordability
86/100Very Affordable

Higher cost area, driven by tourism & traditional crafts, tight-knit local community.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living

¥394,356

≈ $2,629 USD / month

2% more expensive than national average

Budget

¥276,049

Minimal spending, shared housing, cooking at home

Moderate

¥394,356

Average lifestyle, own apartment, occasional dining

Comfortable

¥552,098

Spacious flat, dining out often, leisure activities

Monthly Spending Breakdown

Other
¥229,03958.1%
Food & Groceries
¥62,47215.8%
Transportation
¥45,97211.7%
Utilities
¥16,3834.2%
Entertainment
¥15,4173.9%
Housing & Rent
¥6,9491.8%
Clothing
¥6,6261.7%
Education
¥5,8141.5%
Healthcare
¥5,6851.4%

Price Details

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

Other(3 items)
Total Consumption Expenditure¥353,928
Other Consumption Expenditure¥47,322
Furniture & Household Utensils¥15,184
Food & Groceries(4 items)
Food¥104,431
Rice (Koshihikari)¥5,082
Food (average)¥3,512
Bread (white)¥560
Transportation(1 items)
Transportation & Communication¥83,585
Utilities(1 items)
Fuel, Light & Water Charges¥29,788
Entertainment(1 items)
Culture & Recreation¥28,030
Housing & Rent(1 items)
Housing¥12,634
Clothing(1 items)
Clothing & Footwear¥12,048
Education(1 items)
Education¥10,570
Healthcare(1 items)
Medical Care¥10,336

Foreign Community in Ishikawa

Small Community17,000 foreign residents (1.5% of population)+12.5% growth

Top Nationalities

Vietnamese
Chinese
Brazilian

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

TourismTraditional craftsITManufacturingTextiles

Local Specialties

Kanazawa gold leaf (99% of Japan's production)Kaga cuisineKutani potteryWajima lacquerwareNodoguro (blackthroat seaperch)

Lifestyle

Cultural capital of HokurikuPreserved samurai & geisha districtsArt museumsCompact walkable city

Events & Festivals

Jun

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

Grand samurai parade celebrating the city's founding

Jul-Sep

Wajima Kiriko Festival

Giant illuminated lanterns carried through Noto Peninsula towns

Digital Nomad Score

3/5 — Good

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

Entrepreneur Score

2/5 — Fair

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

Outdoor & Activities

Hiking (Hakusan)SkiingHot springsCycling (Noto Peninsula)

Climate

Rainy and cloudy in winter with moderate snow. Warm, humid summers.

Foreign Community

Community SizeSmall
English Friendliness
3/5

Economic & Investment Profile

Investment Signal: Growing

Kanazawa tourism boom post-Shinkansen; crafts and culture economy; 2024 earthquake recovery investment.

Economic Overview

GDP

¥4.7T

+0.6% YoY

GDP per Capita

¥4.2M

Avg. Income

310万円

≈ ¥3,100,000/yr

Unemployment

2.1%

Below national avg

Startup Rate

3.6%

Below average

Real Estate Market

Avg. Rent (1K)

¥35,000

/month

Avg. Rent (2LDK)

¥55,000

/month

Land Price Trend

+0.8%

YoY change

Vacant House Rate

13.8%

Below national avg (13.6%)

Demographics

Population Trend

↓ Declining

-0.6% YoY

Foreign Residents

17,000

+12.5% growth

Top Nationalities

1.Vietnamese2.Chinese3.Brazilian

Key Metrics at a Glance

GDP¥4.7T
GDP Growth+0.6%
Average Income310\u4E07\u5186
Land Price Change+0.8%
Vacant Houses13.8%
Foreign Residents17,000
Startup Rate3.6%

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 Ishikawa?

The estimated monthly cost of living in Ishikawa for a single person is approximately ¥394,356 (≈ $2,629 USD). This includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and other daily expenses based on government survey data.

What are specific item prices in Ishikawa?

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

Ishikawa is approximately 2% more expensive than the national average.