City, Japan
Cost of living in Kyoto
How much a month costs in Kyoto
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,580–2,410 (¥250,000–380,000).
Prices in Kyoto
Typical 2026 ranges in JPY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | JPY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥80,000–150,000 | $507–950 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥55,000–95,000 | $349–602 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥2,500–4,500 | $16–29 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥12,000–25,000 | $76–158 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥800–1,200 | $5.1–7.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥2,000–4,000 | $13–25 |
| Cappuccino | ¥500–750 | $3.2–4.8 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥600–900 | $3.8–5.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥230–360 | $1.5–2.3 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥1,800–2,600 | $11.4–16.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ¥7,000–12,000 | $44–76 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥3,000–5,000 | $19–32 |
Value for money: 58/100
A value score of 58/100 means Kyoto gives more quality of life per dollar than 57% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 77/100. It's the 25th 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 Kyoto
Similar safety, lower cost, in East Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Takayama | Japan | $1,080–1,710 |
| Kawaguchiko | Japan | $1,010–1,650 |
| Nikko | Japan | $1,080–1,710 |
| Hualien | Taiwan | $1,130–1,730 |
| Hakone | Japan | $1,140–1,770 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kyoto?
About $950–1,270 on a lean budget, $1,580–2,410 for a comfortable month and $3,170–5,700 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kyoto?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥80,000–150,000 ($507–950) a month in the center and ¥55,000–95,000 ($349–602) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kyoto?
A local meal is ¥800–1,200 ($5.1–7.6); a mid-range restaurant is ¥2,000–4,000 ($13–25) per person.
Is Japan expensive?
Prices in Japan are about 65% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kyoto
Going to Kyoto solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Kyoto meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Kyoto City Official Travel Guide
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau
- Kansai Airport
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.