Cost of Living in Yamagata, Japan (2026-09)
Overview
Yamagata is a prefectural capital in the Tohoku region of Japan. Population about 240,000. The latest overall CPI (2026-09) stands at 115.2 on a 2020 = 100 base, +2.3% year on year and +14.9% over the past 5 years. Prices have risen more than the national index (114.5) since 2020. Comparing actual prices of 24 everyday items, Yamagata is +2.0% versus the national average, #17 most expensive of the 52 cities tracked here.
What to know
Tohoku region · prefectural capital (e-Stat area code 06A01)
Overall 115.2 · YoY +2.3% · 5y +14.9% · everyday prices #17 highest 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 (132.0) and food (131.0) and least for education (73.8) and transport & communications (102.8) (index, 2020 = 100). The latest +2.3% year-on-year reading is cooling relative to the +3.0% 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 Yamagata
In Yamagata, 9 of 24 everyday items cost less than the national average. Notably cheaper: Bread (loaf) (-24.2%), Beef (domestic) (-18.2%), Cup noodles (-8.7%). Pricier: Onion (+19.8%), Potato (+18.9%), Ramen (dining out) (+18.4%).
| Item | Price in Yamagata | vs national average | Rank (cheapest first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (standard) | ¥3,947per pack | +7.4% | 42 / 52 |
| Bread (loaf) | ¥416per kg | -24.2% | 3 / 52 |
| Eggs (chicken) | ¥313per pack | -1.1% | 12 / 52 |
| Milk | ¥268per unit | +0.6% | 28 / 52 |
| Chicken | ¥162per 100 g | +1.4% | 34 / 52 |
| Pork (domestic) | ¥319per 100 g | +4.3% | 40 / 52 |
| Beef (domestic) | ¥753per 100 g | -18.2% | 7 / 52 |
| Cabbage | ¥198per kg | +2.4% | 27 / 52 |
| Onion | ¥388per kg | +19.8% | 49 / 52 |
| Potato | ¥562per kg | +18.9% | 47 / 52 |
| Tomato | ¥922per kg | -0.8% | 23 / 52 |
| Banana | ¥426per kg | +14.2% | 45 / 52 |
| Tofu | ¥288per kg | -4.2% | 26 / 52 |
| Cup noodles | ¥173per piece | -8.7% | 3 / 52 |
| Beer | ¥1,158per pack | -1.0% | 21 / 52 |
| Ramen (dining out) | ¥888per serving | +18.4% | 51 / 52 |
| Curry rice (dining out) | ¥895per plate | +6.6% | 36 / 52 |
| Hamburger (fast food) | ¥283per piece | +1.8% | 30 / 47 |
| Coffee (cafe, standard) | ¥392per serving | +8.0% | 30 / 47 |
| Toilet paper | ¥931per 1,000 m | -5.3% | 6 / 52 |
| Laundry detergent | ¥644per kg | +9.0% | 51 / 52 |
| Dry cleaning (standard) | ¥1,540per garment | -8.1% | 18 / 52 |
| Gasoline | ¥176per L | +2.1% | 37 / 52 |
| Haircut fee | ¥4,588per visit | +3.4% | 27 / 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 | 131.0 |
| Housing | 109.1 |
| Utilities (fuel & water) | 115.2 |
| Furniture & household | 132.0 |
| Clothing & footwear | 119.3 |
| Medical care | 107.2 |
| Transport & communication | 102.8 |
| Education | 73.8 |
| Culture & recreation | 120.5 |
| Miscellaneous | 107.0 |
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Compare the cost of living in Yamagata with local pay
Average salary in the prefecture around Yamagata, by age, gender and company sizejpsalary / MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure