Cost of Living in Wakayama, Japan (2026-09)
Overview
Wakayama is a prefectural capital in the Kinki region of Japan. Population about 350,000. The latest overall CPI (2026-09) stands at 112.1 on a 2020 = 100 base, +1.8% year on year and +12.0% over the past 5 years. Prices have risen less than the national index (114.5) since 2020. Comparing actual prices of 24 everyday items, Wakayama is -0.4% versus the national average, #18 cheapest of the 52 cities tracked here.
What to know
Kinki region · prefectural capital (e-Stat area code 30A01)
Overall 112.1 · YoY +1.8% · 5y +12.0% · everyday prices #18 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 (128.0) and food (127.0) and least for education (94.3) and transport & communications (99.7) (index, 2020 = 100). The latest +1.8% year-on-year reading is cooling relative to the +2.4% 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 Wakayama
In Wakayama, 12 of 24 everyday items cost less than the national average. Notably cheaper: Banana (-41.5%), Tofu (-17.8%), Beef (domestic) (-15.2%). Pricier: Onion (+26.6%), Cabbage (+23.6%), Toilet paper (+12.8%).
| Item | Price in Wakayama | vs national average | Rank (cheapest first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (standard) | ¥3,573per pack | -2.8% | 24 / 52 |
| Bread (loaf) | ¥602per kg | +9.7% | 41 / 52 |
| Eggs (chicken) | ¥304per pack | -4.0% | 7 / 52 |
| Milk | ¥279per unit | +4.7% | 35 / 52 |
| Chicken | ¥163per 100 g | +2.0% | 35 / 52 |
| Pork (domestic) | ¥300per 100 g | -1.9% | 16 / 52 |
| Beef (domestic) | ¥781per 100 g | -15.2% | 10 / 52 |
| Cabbage | ¥239per kg | +23.6% | 45 / 52 |
| Onion | ¥410per kg | +26.6% | 50 / 52 |
| Potato | ¥432per kg | -8.6% | 12 / 52 |
| Tomato | ¥1,010per kg | +8.6% | 40 / 52 |
| Banana | ¥218per kg | -41.5% | 1 / 52 |
| Tofu | ¥247per kg | -17.8% | 12 / 52 |
| Cup noodles | ¥176per piece | -7.1% | 7 / 52 |
| Beer | ¥1,289per pack | +10.2% | 52 / 52 |
| Ramen (dining out) | ¥783per serving | +4.4% | 31 / 52 |
| Curry rice (dining out) | ¥900per plate | +7.2% | 39 / 52 |
| Hamburger (fast food) | ¥287per piece | +3.2% | 34 / 47 |
| Coffee (cafe, standard) | ¥347per serving | -4.4% | 8 / 47 |
| Toilet paper | ¥1,109per 1,000 m | +12.8% | 52 / 52 |
| Laundry detergent | ¥528per kg | -10.6% | 1 / 52 |
| Dry cleaning (standard) | ¥1,760per garment | +5.0% | 33 / 52 |
| Gasoline | ¥170per L | -1.3% | 12 / 52 |
| Haircut fee | ¥3,925per visit | -11.6% | 9 / 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 | 127.0 |
| Housing | 104.8 |
| Utilities (fuel & water) | 106.8 |
| Furniture & household | 128.0 |
| Clothing & footwear | 111.5 |
| Medical care | 104.4 |
| Transport & communication | 99.7 |
| Education | 94.3 |
| Culture & recreation | 116.8 |
| Miscellaneous | 107.6 |
Calculate your monthly cost in Wakayama
Compare the cost of living in Wakayama with local pay
Average salary in the prefecture around Wakayama, by age, gender and company sizejpsalary / MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure