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Yokohama, Japan
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n° 23, asia

Yokohama, japan.

For relocators wanting Tokyo-metro access at sub-central-Tokyo cost + a working port-and-international district.

loading…
cost / mo
$1,023
internet
250 Mbps
visa-free · eu
90 days

the scores

Four perspectives on city fit.

Open any score for a plain-language view of the city's strengths and tradeoffs.

your monthly budget

default $700–$4,500 range · drag to personalize

$2,000/mo
$500/mo$10,000/mo

score priority

balanced across the factors that matter

Cost9.2 / 10
1,023 $/mo
Internet10.0 / 10
250 Mbps
Safety8.3 / 10
8.32 /10
Air quality4.3 / 10
26 µg/m³ PM2.5
Weather7.6 / 10
16.9 °C avg/yr
Coworking (listed)6.0 / 10
30 listed spaces

Scores adapt to your selected budget and priority. Each ring is clickable for a plain-language breakdown of the city's strengths and tradeoffs.

monthly cost · solo nomad

Tier 2 · country baseline + verified rent
$1,023/ month

Rent · central 1 BR

$376

Food · groceries + modest dining

$320

Mobile · 20 GB plan

$28

Utilities · electricity + heat + water

$140

Transit · monthly pass

regional avg fallback

$18

Coworking · 4 days/month baseline

$48

Buffer · 10%

for variance + occasional weekend trips

$93

Total solo burn

$1,023

Tier 1 = all components verified for this city/country; Tier 2 = rent verified + country-baseline components; Tier 3 = approximate. Solo nomad baseline assumes one person, central 1-bedroom, modest groceries, 20 GB mobile, 4 paid coworking days/month. Where the rent basis above notes a private-market premium, expat condo budgets run higher than this baseline.

in one sentence · curated

ExpatWhy editorial.

Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city, Tokyo's port-and-international district, 25 minutes by train from central Tokyo, and meaningfully cheaper than Tokyo proper while being part of the same metro system.

editorial

The case & the friction.

The case is the math. Yokohama (3.8M city, part of Greater Tokyo's 38M metro) sits 25 minutes from Tokyo Station by Tokaido Line. A 1-bed in Minato Mirai 21, Kannai, or Motomachi runs ¥75-110k/month, meaningfully below central Tokyo equivalents for the same convenience. Chinatown (Japan's largest), the Yamashita Park waterfront, and the Sankeien Garden anchor the central districts.

Same Japan visa picture as Tokyo. English is more accessible than most Japanese cities because of the 1859-opened-port international history and the long-standing foreign-resident community in Motomachi and Yamate. Coworking is real (WeWork Minato Mirai, others).

The friction is that Yokohama functions as Tokyo's bedroom community, the international scene is real but pulls toward central Tokyo. The Kanto seismic zone exposure is the same as Tokyo's (the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed both cities). Tropical-storm exposure on the Pacific side is real but rarely severe. Air quality is similar to Tokyo's (moderate).

verdict

For relocators wanting Tokyo-metro access at sub-central-Tokyo cost + a working port-and-international district.

last reviewed 2026-05-23·Editorial opinion, not advice. Numbers reflect typical ranges at the review date, verify visa thresholds, rents and event details at official sources before deciding.

work & connectivity

Getting work done.

work-friendly density · OSM

Workable for laptop work.

Workable

coworking spaces

0

wifi cafés

32

In practice: Workable but thin, 0 coworking spaces and 32 wifi cafés. A hotel-with-desk or one good coworking membership covers most days.

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0

tax & stay reality · Japan

Tax resident from 183 days in any 12-month period.

residency trigger

183

days in any 12 months

top marginal rate

45%

on highest bracket

scope

Remittance

Limited / remittance-based

expat / nomad regime

Non-permanent resident status (first 5 years), foreign-source income NOT remitted to Japan is exempt.

tax treaty with

GermanyUnited StatesUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainNetherlandsCanadaAustraliaSingapore

Japan's non-permanent resident regime gives 5 years of partial protection. After 5 years cumulative residency in 10, full worldwide taxation applies. DNV visa holders rarely cross the line at 6 months.

Sources: country tax authority + Wikipedia "Taxation in Japan" (CC-BY-SA) · last reviewed 2026-05-22.

Verify

when to visit

Twelve months of weather.

best month

Jul

Jan
6°
37
Feb
7°
108
Mar
9°
196
Apr
16°
131
May
19°
216
Jun
22°
282
Jul
28°
87
Aug
29°
155
Sep
26°
104
Oct
20°
160
Nov
13°
152
Dec
8°
1

Visit in July, 28°C, only 87mm of rain.

Off-season March–April, weather turns to 9°C and 196mm of rain, and hotel rates typically drop 20–40% from peak.

temperaturerainfallcurrent monthbest month

air quality · 12 months verified

When the air turns.

Hourly PM2.5 averaged by calendar month from modelled atmospheric data, window 2025-07-08 → 2026-07-07. WHO annual guideline is 5 µg/m³.

annual mean

26.4µg/m³

Unhealthy (sens.)

Jan
32
Feb
33
Mar
26
Apr
23
May
20
Jun
22
Jul
16
Aug
25
Sep
22
Oct
23
Nov
37
Dec
37

worst month

Dec · 37 µg/m³

Unhealthy

cleanest month

Jul · 16 µg/m³

Moderate

annual swing

22 µg/m³

Stable year-round

Cleanest air in July (16 µg/m³); worst in December (37 µg/m³).

Annual mean 26.4 µg/m³ is unhealthy for sensitive groups, pack a mask for the December spike, and consider an air purifier if you stay long-term. The 22 µg/m³ swing between worst and best month is large, month-of-travel matters more here than in stable cities.

Modelled, not measured at a station: near coasts atmospheric models can count sea salt as PM2.5 and read high against ground networks. Read the curve, not the absolute.

natural risk

The numbers other sites don't show.

seismic risk · 50 yr · 200 km

Very high seismic exposure.

Very high

M5+ events

702

M6+ events

42

largest

M7.9

Largest recorded: M7.9 in 2011.

In practice: Real seismic exposure (702 M5+ and 42 M6+ in 50 years), long stays should factor in earthquake insurance, building age, and a basic preparedness kit.

tropical storms · 46 yr · 200 km

High cyclone exposure.

High

named storms

93

cat 1+ hurricanes

30

In practice: 93 named storms and 30 cat 1+ hurricanes in 46 years, avoid sea-side stays mid-August through October, and book flexible flights if you must travel in season.

–Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city, Tokyo's port-and-international district, 25 minutes by train from central Tokyo, and meaningfully cheaper than Tokyo proper while being part of the same metro system.

quality of life

Less than an hour of overlap with the European workday, night calls only.

0

hours / day

Local timezone vs Berlin 09:00–17:00 · Asia/Tokyo

lgbtq+ friendliness
6.0/10

country-level rights indicator

female safety
8.0/10

country-level safety indicator

sun hours / year
3,010

12-month modelled average

rainy days / year
164

derived from monthly rainfall

EU work overlap
0hrs

vs Berlin 09–17 · Asia/Tokyo

moving with family

Bringing kids? The school-fee reality.

show

family education · annual tuition

country baseline

International primary school in Yokohama costs about

$20,000/ year

$1,667 / month for 1 child, international primary.

Range for 1 child: $15,000 to $28,000 / year (mid-market to premium).

adjust

children

stage

Tuition only. Excludes one-off enrolment/capital levies, school bus, lunch, uniforms and exam fees, which add materially at most schools.

Yokohama, Japan, editorial landmark

–For relocators wanting Tokyo-metro access at sub-central-Tokyo cost + a working port-and-international district.

ExpatWhy editorial

AI generated

what to know

Pros & cons.

pros

  • Budget-friendly for solo nomads
  • Fast residential internet
  • Very safe for travelers
  • Lively nightlife and dining

cons

  • Costly for families
  • Very humid most of the year

visa & stay

How long can you stay?

digital nomad visa
No, not yet
visa-free for EU passport
90 days
visa-free for US passport
90 days

visa figures as of August 2026 · verify with official immigration sources before traveling

before you go

What to plan around.

Drawn only from the verified figures on this page, the things worth knowing before you book.

  • Pronounced wet season

    Rain peaks around Mar, May & Jun, up to 282 mm in the wettest month. Time a visit for the drier half of the year.

  • Seasonal air-quality dip

    PM2.5 climbs to about 37 µg/m³ around Dec, well above the WHO guideline. Sensitive lungs should plan around it.

  • Seismically active region

    42 quakes of M6+ within 200 km over 50 years (strongest M7.9). Know your building's earthquake rating before signing a lease.

  • Tropical storm exposure

    30 hurricanes and 93 tropical storms passed within 200 km over 46 years. Avoid peak storm season and check that travel insurance covers weather disruption.

compare side-by-side

Yokohama versus three popular alternatives.

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Where to go next.

Closer on the map, closer on the wallet, or closer on the way it feels.

frequently asked

Yokohama, honest answers.

How much does it cost to live in Yokohama per month?
A solo nomad in Yokohama runs roughly $1,023/month, broken down as rent $376 (verified), food $320, mobile $28, utilities $140, transit $18, plus coworking and a 10% buffer. That puts it in the budget tier globally.
How much does international school cost in Yokohama?
International primary school in Yokohama costs about $20,000/year per child (range $15,000 to $28,000, mid-market to premium), a national-average baseline for Japan applied to Yokohama, not a quote from a specific school here. Full-day international preschool runs about $12,000/year per child. International secondary is higher: we model it around $26,000/year per child as a grade uplift over primary, a modelled estimate, not a separately sourced figure. Tuition only; it excludes one-off enrolment/capital levies, bus, lunch, uniforms and exam fees, which add materially at most schools.
What is the tax situation for nomads in Japan?
Tax residency triggers at 183 days in any 12-month period. Foreign income is taxed only when remitted in (limited / remittance basis). Top marginal personal income tax is 45%. Non-permanent resident status (first 5 years), foreign-source income NOT remitted to Japan is exempt. Verify current details at the country's tax authority, link on the city's Tax & Stay card.
What visa do I need to live in Yokohama?
EU passports get 90 days visa-free; US passports get 90 days. Longer stays require a residence permit or remote-worker visa, verify at the country's official immigration site.
How is the air quality in Yokohama?
Annual PM2.5 averages 26 µg/m³, which unhealthy for sensitive groups, plan around the worst months. The 12-month curve on this page shows the seasonal swing, many cities have a sharp burning season or winter inversion that doesn't show in the annual number.
Is Yokohama safe for solo female travelers?
Japan scores 8.0/10 on the women's-safety indicator, very safe by international standards. Country-level scores; major cities often differ from country averages, especially by neighborhood.
When is the best time to visit Yokohama?
Jul typically scores best on our combined comfort index, average temperature 28°C, low rainfall, high sunshine. Each city's Climate Chart on this page shows the full 12-month picture.
Are there earthquakes in Yokohama?
Yes, the historical record includes 702 M5+ earthquakes and 42 M6+ within 200 km over the last 50 years. The largest was M7.9 in 2011. Modern buildings in major cities are engineered for this; factor it into long-stay decisions.

where it is

Yokohama on the map.

Yokohama, Japan, Asia.

35.4437, 139.6380

Map tiles & data © OpenStreetMap contributors.