Cost of Living in Saitama, Japan (2026-09)
Overview
Saitama is a prefectural capital in the Kanto region of Japan. Population about 1,340,000. The latest overall CPI (2026-09) stands at 113.2 on a 2020 = 100 base, +2.1% year on year and +13.5% over the past 5 years. Prices have risen less than the national index (114.5) since 2020. Comparing actual prices of 24 everyday items, Saitama is -2.4% versus the national average, #8 cheapest of the 52 cities tracked here.
What to know
Kanto region · prefectural capital (e-Stat area code 11A01)
Overall 113.2 · YoY +2.1% · 5y +13.5% · everyday prices #8 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 household goods (129.6) and food (127.5) and least for education (95.6) and housing (105.0) (index, 2020 = 100). The latest +2.1% year-on-year reading is cooling relative to the +2.7% 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 Saitama
In Saitama, 15 of 24 everyday items cost less than the national average. Notably cheaper: Ramen (dining out) (-38.0%), Bread (loaf) (-18.0%), Tofu (-7.9%). Pricier: Haircut fee (+13.8%), Beef (domestic) (+10.6%), Coffee (cafe, standard) (+8.6%).
| Item | Price in Saitama | vs national average | Rank (cheapest first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (standard) | ¥3,519per pack | -4.2% | 20 / 52 |
| Bread (loaf) | ¥450per kg | -18.0% | 4 / 52 |
| Eggs (chicken) | ¥320per pack | +1.1% | 24 / 52 |
| Milk | ¥248per unit | -6.9% | 8 / 52 |
| Chicken | ¥153per 100 g | -4.3% | 20 / 52 |
| Pork (domestic) | ¥324per 100 g | +6.0% | 49 / 52 |
| Beef (domestic) | ¥1,019per 100 g | +10.6% | 40 / 52 |
| Cabbage | ¥186per kg | -3.8% | 22 / 52 |
| Onion | ¥332per kg | +2.5% | 29 / 52 |
| Potato | ¥484per kg | +2.4% | 29 / 52 |
| Tomato | ¥927per kg | -0.3% | 25 / 52 |
| Banana | ¥351per kg | -5.9% | 11 / 52 |
| Tofu | ¥277per kg | -7.9% | 20 / 52 |
| Cup noodles | ¥180per piece | -5.0% | 11 / 52 |
| Beer | ¥1,136per pack | -2.8% | 8 / 52 |
| Ramen (dining out) | ¥465per serving | -38.0% | 1 / 52 |
| Curry rice (dining out) | ¥820per plate | -2.3% | 23 / 52 |
| Hamburger (fast food) | ¥280per piece | +0.7% | 22 / 47 |
| Coffee (cafe, standard) | ¥394per serving | +8.6% | 40 / 47 |
| Toilet paper | ¥1,003per 1,000 m | +2.0% | 37 / 52 |
| Laundry detergent | ¥579per kg | -2.0% | 18 / 52 |
| Dry cleaning (standard) | ¥1,669per garment | -0.4% | 30 / 52 |
| Gasoline | ¥166per L | -3.7% | 3 / 52 |
| Haircut fee | ¥5,050per visit | +13.8% | 42 / 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 | 127.5 |
| Housing | 105.0 |
| Utilities (fuel & water) | 110.7 |
| Furniture & household | 129.6 |
| Clothing & footwear | 110.7 |
| Medical care | 108.3 |
| Transport & communication | 105.9 |
| Education | 95.6 |
| Culture & recreation | 121.5 |
| Miscellaneous | 107.3 |
Calculate your monthly cost in Saitama
Compare the cost of living in Saitama with local pay
Average salary in the prefecture around Saitama, by age, gender and company sizejpsalary / MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure