Bangkok vs Tokyo: cost of living for digital nomads

Bangkok, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Bangkok is about 39% cheaper than Tokyo for a month of nomad living ($1,720 vs $2,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Bangkok against $1,300 in Tokyo.
  • Tokyo scores higher on safety (10/10 vs 7/10).
  • Bangkok is tropical; Tokyo is temperate.

Bangkok wins 6 of the measured lines; Tokyo wins 1.

LineBangkokTokyo
Monthly total (USD)$1,720$2,800
Rent$720$1,300
Food$420$650
Transport$60$120
Coworking$130$200
Safety (out of 10)7/1010/10
Internet (Mbps)230230
Climatetropicaltemperate
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/107/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.