Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Kyoto vs Semarang

Kyoto vs Semarang

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Semarang 78% cheaper Kyoto +185 Mbps High / Moderate

Kyoto

Andre Benz/Unsplash

Semarang

Supri Yanto/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$3,772

Kyoto

$825

Semarang

Internet

217

Mbps

Safety

High

Kyoto

Moderate

Semarang

Air Quality

5/5

Kyoto

5/5

Semarang

Healthcare

Low

Kyoto

Moderate

Semarang

Population

1.5m

Kyoto

1.6m

Semarang

Kyoto (Japan) and Semarang (Indonesia) are both in Asia, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

The monthly savings are substantial — Semarang at $825/mo costs 78% less than Kyoto at $3772/mo, adding up to $35364 over a year.

For families, Kyoto costs $2588.69733454465/mo compared to Semarang's $1605.588646314858/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

For bandwidth-intensive work, Kyoto has a clear edge at 217 Mbps (#0 globally) compared to Semarang's 32 Mbps (#0).

Quality of Life

Kyoto has a stronger safety profile than Semarang, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Semarang offers better healthcare infrastructure than Kyoto — an important consideration for longer stays.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Kyoto is June (around 30 degrees, 3mm rain, score 466), while Semarang peaks in July (35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 397). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

KyotoSemarang

Nomad$3,772/mo$825/mo

Expat$1,903/mo$603/mo

Local$740/mo$459/mo

Family$2,589/mo$1,606/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

KyotoSemarang

City Speed

217 Mbps

32 Mbps

Country Speed217 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

KyotoSemarang

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionModerateModerate

ClimateHighModerate

Humidity7788

Quality of Life

KyotoSemarang

SafetyHighModerate

HealthcareLowModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Kyoto

Semarang

Jan

7°

0mm401

34°

8mm237

Feb

6°

1mm392

35°

5mm222

Mar

8°

1mm355

36°

6mm253

Apr

21°

0mm446

37°

5mm319

May

24°

0mm446

37°

1mm373

Jun

30°

3mm466

36°

1mm368

Jul

38°

2mm418

35°

0mm397

Aug

40°

1mm398

36°

0mm397

Sep

37°

0mm456

36°

0mm397

Oct

26°

0mm464

37°

0mm382

Nov

16°

0mm426

36°

7mm319

Dec

6°

0mm394

34°

15mm207

Who Should Choose Kyoto?

Excellent for video calls and large uploads with 217 Mbps
High safety rating for peace of mind
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $2588.69733454465/mo for families
Peak season in June — 30 degrees, score 466

Who Should Choose Semarang?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $825
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1605.588646314858/mo for families
Peak season in July — 35 degrees, score 397

Overall Verdict

The data favors Kyoto as the more well-rounded choice. At $3772/mo versus Semarang's $825/mo, that is a 78% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Kyoto Semarang

ItemKyotoSemarangDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$6.33$1.3

79%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$44.67$9.72

78%

McMeal or equivalent combo$5.58$3.24

42%

Cappuccino (regular)$3.43$1.34

61%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$3.16$2.48

22%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$5.21$2.59

50%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$1.14$0.42

63%

Water (0.33L)$0.9$0.2

78%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.45$1.13

22%

White bread (500g)$1.66$0.97

42%

White rice (1kg)$3.6$0.81

78%

Eggs (12)$1.94$1.29

34%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$6.7$2.96

56%

Beef round (1kg)$13.9$7.24

48%

Local cheese (1kg)$15.39$6.15

60%

Apples (1kg)$4.76$2.3

52%

Bananas (1kg)$3.37$1.3

61%

Oranges (1kg)$6.33$1.15

82%

Tomatoes (1kg)$4.47$0.86

81%

Potatoes (1kg)$2.08$1.15

45%

Onions (1kg)$2.9$1.38

52%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.36$0.55

60%

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.86$0.36

58%

Wine, mid-range bottle$8.19$12.15

33%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.89$2.03

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.23$2.98

25%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$3.8$1.94

49%

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$1.71$0.23

87%

Monthly transport pass$84.78$18.18

79%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$3.65$0.58

84%

Taxi per 1km$2.38$0.32

87%

Taxi 1hr waiting$19.06$2.11

89%

Gasoline (1L)$1.25$0.79

37%

Volkswagen Golf (new)$21,591.04$23,334.86

Toyota Corolla (new)$17,372.1$27,914.38

38%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$131.48$40.19

69%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$31.64$28.38

10%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.15$0.1

33%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$58.35$29.17

50%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$14$12.15

13%

Cinema, 1 ticket$11.91$3.24

73%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$355.51$75.62

79%

International primary school/yr$10,051$6,009.65

40%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$48.64$32.39

33%

Summer dress (chain store)$26.77$22.69

15%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$60.96$64.82

Men's leather business shoes$69.67$37.81

46%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$632.84$259.28

59%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$359.85$194.46

46%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$1,253.27$680.6

46%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$804.08$550.96

31%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$4,777.32$1,215.36

75%

Price per m², outside centre$5,039.29$378.11

92%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$1,968.01$269

86%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$1.48$8.69

83%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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