Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tokyo 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Tokyo is 29.0% lower than in Chicago, IL (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Tokyo is 38.5% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Rent Prices in Tokyo are 54.5% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Restaurant Prices in Tokyo are 56.7% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Groceries Prices in Tokyo are 23.7% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Tokyo is 21.9% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
Restaurants | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 $ (3,166.68 ¥) |
7.58 $ (1,200.00 ¥) |
-62.1 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
100.00 $ (15,833.42 ¥) |
41.68 $ (6,600.00 ¥) |
-58.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
12.75 $ (2,017.97 ¥) |
5.05 $ (800.00 ¥) |
-60.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
7.00 $ (1,108.34 ¥) |
3.16 $ (500.00 ¥) |
-54.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
9.00 $ (1,425.01 ¥) |
5.05 $ (800.00 ¥) |
-43.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.49 $ (869.44 ¥) |
3.22 $ (510.35 ¥) |
-41.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.07 $ (486.57 ¥) |
1.16 $ (183.63 ¥) |
-62.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.36 $ (373.54 ¥) |
0.80 $ (126.11 ¥) |
-66.2 % |
Markets | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.22 $ (193.70 ¥) |
1.44 $ (228.06 ¥) |
+17.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.81 $ (602.99 ¥) |
1.21 $ (191.05 ¥) |
-68.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.44 $ (386.72 ¥) |
2.58 $ (408.84 ¥) |
+5.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
5.41 $ (856.27 ¥) |
2.28 $ (361.28 ¥) |
-57.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
6.15 $ (973.68 ¥) |
5.37 $ (850.16 ¥) |
-12.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.77 $ (1,071.19 ¥) |
3.42 $ (541.07 ¥) |
-49.5 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
8.22 $ (1,302.13 ¥) |
9.12 $ (1,444.73 ¥) |
+11.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.42 $ (383.38 ¥) |
2.29 $ (363.06 ¥) |
-5.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.83 $ (131.00 ¥) |
1.08 $ (171.12 ¥) |
+30.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.74 $ (274.90 ¥) |
2.11 $ (333.46 ¥) |
+21.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.02 $ (319.84 ¥) |
2.50 $ (395.80 ¥) |
+23.8 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.14 $ (179.77 ¥) |
1.36 $ (215.34 ¥) |
+19.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.17 $ (185.33 ¥) |
1.40 $ (220.96 ¥) |
+19.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.48 $ (392.80 ¥) |
1.27 $ (200.64 ¥) |
-48.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.67 $ (422.14 ¥) |
0.81 $ (128.77 ¥) |
-69.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.99 $ (2,532.56 ¥) |
9.47 $ (1,500.00 ¥) |
-40.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
2.82 $ (447.11 ¥) |
1.94 $ (306.91 ¥) |
-31.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.51 $ (555.16 ¥) |
2.75 $ (435.62 ¥) |
-21.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
16.00 $ (2,533.35 ¥) |
3.79 $ (600.00 ¥) |
-76.3 % |
Transportation | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.50 $ (395.84 ¥) |
1.39 $ (220.00 ¥) |
-44.4 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
75.00 $ (11,875.07 ¥) |
63.16 $ (10,000.00 ¥) |
-15.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.25 $ (514.59 ¥) |
3.16 $ (500.00 ¥) |
-2.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.25 $ (356.25 ¥) |
4.98 $ (788.58 ¥) |
+121.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
25.00 $ (3,958.36 ¥) |
18.57 $ (2,940.00 ¥) |
-25.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.00 $ (158.02 ¥) |
1.12 $ (177.04 ¥) |
+12.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,531.00 $ (5,784,108.49 ¥) |
21,539.88 $ (3,410,500.00 ¥) |
-41.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,411.35 $ (4,181,821.76 ¥) |
15,170.05 $ (2,401,938.46 ¥) |
-42.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
176.32 $ (27,918.15 ¥) |
156.60 $ (24,795.00 ¥) |
-11.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
72.21 $ (11,433.40 ¥) |
23.43 $ (3,709.47 ¥) |
-67.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
66.70 $ (10,560.89 ¥) |
29.72 $ (4,705.88 ¥) |
-55.4 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
70.01 $ (11,084.87 ¥) |
65.84 $ (10,424.00 ¥) |
-6.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
29.00 $ (4,592.41 ¥) |
27.01 $ (4,277.27 ¥) |
-6.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
16.77 $ (2,655.27 ¥) |
12.63 $ (2,000.00 ¥) |
-24.7 % |
Childcare | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,965.00 $ (311,126.80 ¥) |
1,039.31 $ (164,558.47 ¥) |
-47.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
34,958.67 $ (5,535,154.27 ¥) |
15,679.69 $ (2,482,631.58 ¥) |
-55.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
61.75 $ (9,777.14 ¥) |
50.01 $ (7,919.05 ¥) |
-19.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
47.92 $ (7,586.85 ¥) |
35.05 $ (5,549.34 ¥) |
-26.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
99.23 $ (15,711.08 ¥) |
54.50 $ (8,629.98 ¥) |
-45.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
138.82 $ (21,980.52 ¥) |
81.18 $ (12,853.31 ¥) |
-41.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,371.88 $ (375,549.05 ¥) |
1,144.53 $ (181,219.05 ¥) |
-51.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,643.74 $ (260,259.84 ¥) |
654.47 $ (103,625.00 ¥) |
-60.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,555.88 $ (721,352.22 ¥) |
2,092.92 $ (331,380.95 ¥) |
-54.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,766.65 $ (438,054.99 ¥) |
1,262.97 $ (199,971.36 ¥) |
-54.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
347.09 $ (54,956.85 ¥) |
984.44 $ (155,870.39 ¥) |
+183.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
236.15 $ (37,390.83 ¥) |
445.73 $ (70,574.76 ¥) |
+88.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chicago, IL Edit |
Tokyo Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,302.18 $ (839,516.61 ¥) |
2,545.32 $ (403,011.05 ¥) |
-52.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.56 | 1.52 | -76.8 % |
| Last update: | 14 January 2026 | 21 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 169 | 155 | |
Moving to Chicago, IL? Explore:
Moving to Tokyo? Explore:
Cities near Chicago, IL: | Cost of Living in Oak Park, Illinois | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Evanston, Illinois | 14.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Grange Park, Illinois | 15.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Franklin Park, Illinois | 16.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Des Plaines, Illinois | 20.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Addison, Illinois | 22.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Chicago, Indiana | 23.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wheaton, Illinois | 25.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington Heights, Illinois | 27.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bolingbrook, Illinois | 29.21 miles |
Cities near Tokyo: | Cost of Living in Matsudo | 17.80 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yokohama | 21.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Saitama | 22.56 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chiba | 29.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kamakura | 32.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yokosuka | 37.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hiratsuka | 37.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ome | 40.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sammu | 56.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashikaga | 72.03 miles |