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Sapporo vs Tokyo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇯🇵 Sapporo
🇯🇵 TokyoSapporo is 38% cheaper than Tokyo
Living on $2,264 a month in Sapporo feels like about $3,667 in Tokyo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$174 vs $201
Per month
$2,264 vs $3,667
Local meal
¥ 960 vs ¥ 1,000
$6.49 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
¥ 2,100 vs ¥ 2,500
$14.2 vs $16.9
At a glance
FoodSapporo 8% cheaper
Cafés & drinksSapporo 9% cheaper
TransportSapporo 6% cheaper
StaySapporo 41% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Sapporo is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (55%↓), Taxi (16%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Sapporo | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 960$6.49 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 430$2.91 | ¥ 450$3.04 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Sapporo −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 520$3.51 | ¥ 550$3.72 | Sapporo −5% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 550$3.72 | ¥ 600$4.05 | Sapporo −8% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | Sapporo −12% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 120$0.81 | ¥ 120$0.81 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 300$2.03 | ¥ 300$2.03 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 2,100$14.2 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | Sapporo −16% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 210$1.42 | ¥ 210$1.42 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 13,000$87.8 | ¥ 15,000$101 | Sapporo −13% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 67,000$453 | ¥ 150,000$1,014 | Sapporo −55% |
| Laundry | ¥ 740$5 | ¥ 740$5 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Sapporo or Tokyo?
Sapporo is 38% cheaper than Tokyo. Daily budget $174 vs $201; a month $2,264 vs $3,667.
How do monthly costs compare between Sapporo and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Sapporo is about $2,264 and Tokyo about $3,667 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.