Cost of Living in Kobe, Japan (2026-09)
Overview
Kobe is a prefectural capital in the Kinki region of Japan. Population about 1,500,000. The latest overall CPI (2026-09) stands at 113.8 on a 2020 = 100 base, +2.2% year on year and +14.3% over the past 5 years. Prices have risen less than the national index (114.5) since 2020. Comparing actual prices of 24 everyday items, Kobe is +0.3% versus the national average, #23 cheapest of the 52 cities tracked here.
What to know
Kinki region · prefectural capital (e-Stat area code 28A01)
Overall 113.8 · YoY +2.2% · 5y +14.3% · everyday prices #23 cheapest of 52
Open the calculator to estimate a monthly budget for this city in your home currency.
Since 2020, prices have risen most for food (129.7) and household goods (124.0) and least for education (91.4) and transport & communications (99.8) (index, 2020 = 100). The latest +2.2% year-on-year reading is cooling relative to the +2.9% annual average of the past 5 years. Because category weights such as housing and food shape what living here actually feels like, use the chart and table below to follow the trajectory.
Prices of everyday items in Kobe
In Kobe, 11 of 24 everyday items cost less than the national average. Notably cheaper: Beef (domestic) (-18.8%), Tofu (-11.2%), Ramen (dining out) (-7.7%). Pricier: Dry cleaning (standard) (+16.6%), Potato (+9.6%), Onion (+6.2%).
| Item | Price in Kobe | vs national average | Rank (cheapest first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (standard) | ¥3,851per pack | +4.8% | 39 / 52 |
| Bread (loaf) | ¥518per kg | -5.6% | 12 / 52 |
| Eggs (chicken) | ¥317per pack | +0.1% | 17 / 52 |
| Milk | ¥267per unit | +0.2% | 27 / 52 |
| Chicken | ¥169per 100 g | +5.8% | 45 / 52 |
| Pork (domestic) | ¥321per 100 g | +5.0% | 42 / 52 |
| Beef (domestic) | ¥748per 100 g | -18.8% | 6 / 52 |
| Cabbage | ¥191per kg | -1.2% | 24 / 52 |
| Onion | ¥344per kg | +6.2% | 38 / 52 |
| Potato | ¥518per kg | +9.6% | 42 / 52 |
| Tomato | ¥897per kg | -3.5% | 16 / 52 |
| Banana | ¥393per kg | +5.4% | 39 / 52 |
| Tofu | ¥267per kg | -11.2% | 17 / 52 |
| Cup noodles | ¥193per piece | +1.8% | 31 / 52 |
| Beer | ¥1,221per pack | +4.4% | 47 / 52 |
| Ramen (dining out) | ¥692per serving | -7.7% | 11 / 52 |
| Curry rice (dining out) | ¥813per plate | -3.2% | 20 / 52 |
| Hamburger (fast food) | ¥277per piece | -0.4% | 19 / 47 |
| Coffee (cafe, standard) | ¥347per serving | -4.4% | 8 / 47 |
| Toilet paper | ¥963per 1,000 m | -2.0% | 19 / 52 |
| Laundry detergent | ¥579per kg | -2.0% | 18 / 52 |
| Dry cleaning (standard) | ¥1,954per garment | +16.6% | 43 / 52 |
| Gasoline | ¥175per L | +1.6% | 34 / 52 |
| Haircut fee | ¥4,694per visit | +5.8% | 29 / 47 |
Average retail prices for 2026-09 from the Statistics Bureau's Retail Price Survey. The national average is a simple average of the surveyed cities, not a weighted one; ranks compare the cities covered on this site. Browse all item prices →
5-year price trend
Latest CPI by category (2020 = 100)
| Category | CPI (2026-09) |
|---|---|
| Food | 129.7 |
| Housing | 106.6 |
| Utilities (fuel & water) | 106.5 |
| Furniture & household | 124.0 |
| Clothing & footwear | 115.2 |
| Medical care | 105.4 |
| Transport & communication | 99.8 |
| Education | 91.4 |
| Culture & recreation | 117.9 |
| Miscellaneous | 107.9 |
Calculate your monthly cost in Kobe
Compare the cost of living in Kobe with local pay
Average salary in the prefecture around Kobe, by age, gender and company sizejpsalary / MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure