Island in Kagoshima, Japan
Cost of living in Yakushima
How much a month costs in Yakushima
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,580–2,410 (¥250,000–380,000).
Prices in Yakushima
Typical 2026 ranges in JPY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | JPY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥3,500–5,500 | $22–35 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥10,000–20,000 | $63–127 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥1,000–1,500 | $6.3–9.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥2,000–3,500 | $13–22 |
| Cappuccino | ¥450–750 | $2.9–4.8 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥600–900 | $3.8–5.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥200–800 | $1.3–5.1 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥2,000–3,000 | $12.7–19.0 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥2,000–4,000 | $13–25 |
Value for money: 57/100
A value score of 57/100 means Yakushima gives more quality of life per dollar than 56% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 76/100. It's the 26th 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 |
| 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 |
| Yakushima | $1,580–2,410 | 57/100 |
| 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 Yakushima
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 Yakushima?
About $1,010–1,460 on a lean budget, $1,580–2,410 for a comfortable month and $2,850–4,750 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Yakushima?
A local meal is ¥1,000–1,500 ($6.3–9.5); a mid-range restaurant is ¥2,000–3,500 ($13–22) per person.
Is Japan expensive?
Prices in Japan are about 65% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Yakushima
Going to Yakushima solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Yakushima Tourism Association
- Yakushima Town
- Kagoshima Prefecture tourism (Travel Kagoshima)
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.