City in Hyogo, Japan
Cost of living in Kobe
How much a month costs in Kobe
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,330–1,900 (¥210,000–300,000).
Prices in Kobe
Typical 2026 ranges in JPY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | JPY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥75,000–130,000 | $475–824 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥50,000–85,000 | $317–539 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥2,800–4,500 | $18–29 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥10,000–20,000 | $63–127 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥800–1,300 | $5.1–8.2 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥1,800–3,500 | $11–22 |
| Cappuccino | ¥450–700 | $2.9–4.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥550–850 | $3.5–5.4 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥210–410 | $1.3–2.6 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥1,800–2,500 | $11.4–15.8 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ¥7,000–11,000 | $44–70 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥2,000–4,000 | $13–25 |
Value for money: 74/100
A value score of 74/100 means Kobe gives more quality of life per dollar than 73% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 79/100. It's the 15th most affordable of 36 places we cover in Japan.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Japan
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchiko | $1,010–1,650 | 84/100 |
| Takayama | $1,080–1,710 | 86/100 |
| Nikko | $1,080–1,710 | 82/100 |
| Beppu | $1,140–1,650 | 82/100 |
| Hakone | $1,140–1,770 | 78/100 |
| Furano | $1,140–1,770 | 81/100 |
| Nagasaki | $1,200–1,770 | 78/100 |
| Hakodate | $1,200–1,770 | 80/100 |
| Otaru | $1,200–1,770 | 79/100 |
| Matsumoto | $1,200–1,770 | 79/100 |
| Hiroshima | $1,270–1,900 | 76/100 |
| Nara | $1,270–1,900 | 75/100 |
| Sendai | $1,270–1,900 | 77/100 |
| Kobe | $1,330–1,900 | 74/100 |
| Miyakojima | $1,330–1,960 | 76/100 |
| Ishigaki | $1,390–2,030 | 74/100 |
| Sapporo | $1,390–2,090 | 70/100 |
| Okinawa | $1,390–2,090 | 75/100 |
| Fukuoka | $1,390–2,090 | 69/100 |
| Kanazawa | $1,390–2,090 | 68/100 |
| Nagoya | $1,390–2,090 | 66/100 |
| Osaka | $1,520–2,220 | 63/100 |
| Kamakura | $1,580–2,220 | 62/100 |
| Kyoto | $1,580–2,410 | 58/100 |
| Yokohama | $1,650–2,410 | 58/100 |
| Shirakawa-go | $1,770–2,660 | 50/100 |
| Koyasan | $1,770–2,660 | 48/100 |
| Tokyo | $1,900–2,850 | 44/100 |
| Niseko | $1,900–3,170 | 44/100 |
| Hakuba | $2,220–3,490 | 33/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Kobe
Similar safety, lower cost, in East Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchiko | Japan | $1,010–1,650 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kobe?
About $824–1,140 on a lean budget, $1,330–1,900 for a comfortable month and $2,530–4,120 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kobe?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥75,000–130,000 ($475–824) a month in the center and ¥50,000–85,000 ($317–539) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kobe?
A local meal is ¥800–1,300 ($5.1–8.2); a mid-range restaurant is ¥1,800–3,500 ($11–22) per person.
Is Japan expensive?
Prices in Japan are about 65% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kobe
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Feel Kobe (Kobe city tourism)
- Kobe Airport
- Kobe Municipal Subway
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.