City Comparison

Duluth vs Tokyo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

Tokyo

Japan
82
Very Affordable
$450,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$42,000
Median Income

The Verdict

3.7%

Tokyo is 3.7% less expensive than Duluth overall. A household earning $75,000 in Duluth would need approximately $72,353 in Tokyo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
88
Duluth
98
Tokyo
Groceries
99
Duluth
88
Tokyo
Utilities
94
Duluth
85
Tokyo
Transportation
100
Duluth
78
Tokyo
Healthcare
123
Duluth
62
Tokyo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $72,353 in Tokyo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tokyo equals $77,744 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Tokyo

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Tokyo's 98, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $450,000. The $182,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,832 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,225/mo in Tokyo, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 88 in Tokyo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $418/month in Tokyo. Tokyo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 85 in Tokyo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $340 in Tokyo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 62 in Tokyo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 61-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $42,000 in Tokyo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $51,220 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $980/month in Tokyo. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Tokyo, median rent of $1,225/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 61 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tokyo is 3.7% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,353 in Tokyo, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Tokyo's is 98 with median homes at $450,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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