Cost of Living in Sendai, Japan (2026-08)
Overview
Sendai is a prefectural capital in the Tohoku region of Japan. Population about 1,100,000. The latest overall CPI (2026-08) stands at 116.7 on a 2020 = 100 base, +1.7% year on year and +283.9% over the past 57 years. That is +2.1% versus the national average of 114.3, so prices run higher. Among the 52 cities tracked here, it ranks #4 by price level.
What to know
Tohoku region · prefectural capital (e-Stat area code 04A01)
Overall 116.7 · YoY +1.7% · 57y +283.9% · #4 of 52
Open the calculator to estimate a monthly budget for this city in your home currency.
This month the highest indices are food (132.2) and household goods (124.0), while the lowest are education (91.1) and transport & communications (102.2). The latest +1.7% year-on-year reading is cooling relative to the +5.0% annual average of the past 57 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.
5-year price trend
Latest CPI by category (2020 = 100)
| Category | CPI (2026-08) |
|---|---|
| Food | 132.2 |
| Housing | 110.3 |
| Utilities (fuel & water) | 109.1 |
| Furniture & household | 124.0 |
| Clothing & footwear | 114.1 |
| Medical care | 108.1 |
| Transport & communication | 102.2 |
| Education | 91.1 |
| Culture & recreation | 122.2 |
| Miscellaneous | 108.2 |