Kyoto
Japan · Asia · 1.5M people
Former imperial capital dense with temples and shrines.
Ranked #16 of 303 overall · 35.01, 135.77
Overview
Kyoto, Japan, is home to about 1.5 million residents and has built a reputation that goes beyond its size. It has a reputation as a solid, practical choice for raising a family. Its reputation is built on history, architecture and a dense cultural calendar. People who choose to settle in Kyoto tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Within the 76 cities we track in Asia, the regional average sits at 6.5/10, which puts Kyoto's 7.6/10 comfortably ahead of the regional norm. On CityMatch, Kyoto scores 7.6/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #16 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is safety at 9/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 6/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Reasonable day-to-day costs.
Low crime, easy to feel at ease.
Clean air, easy to spend time outdoors.
A car is optional for most people.
A normal seasonal mix, nothing extreme.
Reliable access to quality care.
Remote work is a non-issue here.
Is Kyoto right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
A 9/10 safety score puts Kyoto among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Air quality and environment score 8/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Public transport scores 8/10, dense enough that skipping a car is realistic for most residents.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is Kyoto's comparatively softest spot at 6/10 — still a workable budget, just not its standout strength.
Climate is the comparatively softer spot at 6/10 — pleasant enough, just not where Kyoto stands out most.
Is Kyoto safe?
Safety is a genuine strength of Kyoto, at 9/10. It's the kind of city where petty crime and serious crime alike are less of a daily concern than in most of the 303 cities we track.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 8/10 and environment score of 8/10, Kyoto looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (9/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Public transport feels safe here too — safety (9/10) and transport quality (8/10) are both strong, a combination that generally makes getting around without a car low-stress.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Kyoto?
Kyoto scores 6/10 on climate — pleasant enough for most of the year, without being a specific draw on its own.
Seasonal character
Expect a normal four-season rhythm (or a wet/dry split closer to the equator), without extremes dominating the calendar.
Comfort level
Comfort is generally good, with the odd day or short stretch that calls for planning ahead rather than year-round ease.
Best time to live here
Shoulder-season months (spring and autumn, broadly) tend to be the safest bet if you can choose when to visit or move.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Kyoto
Put together, quality of life in Kyoto is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: kyoto tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Kyoto tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (8/10) and climate (6/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Getting around is one of Kyoto's clearer strengths (8/10) — day-to-day life doesn't really require a car.
Culture & leisure
Kyoto is specifically known for its cultural and historical scene — museums, architecture and a dense calendar of things to do are part of its identity, not an afterthought.
Based on its actual score profile, Kyoto tends to suit people who prioritize safety and environment & air quality over cost of living — see "Who Kyoto suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Kyoto?
Kyoto scores 8/10 on environment and air quality — among the cleaner cities we track, and a reasonable proxy for a well-kept public realm.
Public spaces
We don't track a separate public-space or waste-management metric, but cities that score this well on air quality tend to also invest visibly in upkeep — a reasonable, if indirect, signal.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Kyoto suits
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 7.9/10 here).
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 7.9/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 7.7/10 here).
Young professional
Young professionals — early-career movers who want nightlife and transit within budget, without yet prioritizing healthcare or climate (fit score 7.5/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Kyoto scores 6/10 on affordability — not cheap, but reasonable: expect a moderate budget to cover a comfortable, unremarkable lifestyle.
Safety
Safety is one of Kyoto's clearest strengths, scoring 9/10 — the kind of place where walking home at night or letting kids out alone doesn't require much second-guessing.
Climate
Kyoto's climate scores 6/10 — a decent mix of seasons without extremes in either direction.
Quality of life
Kyoto's overall quality of life (7.6/10) comes from consistency rather than any single standout: every criterion sits within a few points of the others, with safety edging out as the strongest and cost of living the softest spot. The average across all seven criteria is 7.6/10.
Transport
Getting around is one of Kyoto's strong points, scoring 8/10 on transport — a car is genuinely optional here for most day-to-day needs.
Internet & remote work
Remote work is well supported here: Kyoto scores 8/10 on internet and connectivity, with fast, reliable connections in most neighborhoods.
Why choose Kyoto?
Kyoto is a strong, well-rounded pick at 7.6/10 overall — safety stands out most, and even its comparatively softest criterion (cost of living) is still a solid, workable score rather than a real downside.
You may also like
Tokyo
Japan · Asia
Enormous, immaculately organised capital with the world's busiest rail network.
Nagoya
Japan · Asia
Industrial heartland city and Japan's third-largest metro area.
Taipei
Taiwan · Asia
Compact capital with an excellent metro and low crime.
Yokohama
Japan · Asia
Port city just south of Tokyo, calmer with better value for space.
Vienna
Austria · Europe
Consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities.
Continue exploring
Best cities in Japan
Cities with a similar climate
Cheaper alternatives
Comparable quality of life
If you're interested in Kyoto, you may also compare:
Frequently asked questions
Is Kyoto safe?
Yes — Kyoto scores 9/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Kyoto?
Kyoto scores 6/10 on cost of living — a moderate budget is enough for a comfortable lifestyle, without it being a bargain destination.
Is Kyoto good for families?
Kyoto works well for families: safety (9/10), healthcare (8/10) and environment (8/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Kyoto a good city for students?
Kyoto isn't specifically known as a student hub, but its affordability (6/10) and transport (8/10) scores make it a workable option.
Is Kyoto suitable for digital nomads?
Kyoto isn't specifically marketed to remote workers, but the fundamentals are there: internet scores 8/10 and cost of living 6/10.
What's the climate like in Kyoto?
Kyoto scores 6/10 on climate — a normal seasonal mix without real extremes.
Is Kyoto pleasant to live in year-round?
Reasonably — Kyoto scores 6/10 on climate and 8/10 on environment, a fair rather than exceptional combination across the year.
Is Kyoto a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 8.3/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Kyoto?
Yes — Kyoto scores 8/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is Kyoto a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.7/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Kyoto?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Tokyo and Nagoya are the closest matches to Kyoto in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Kyoto worth living in?
On balance, yes — Kyoto's overall score of 7.6/10 is among the stronger all-round profiles in our 303-city database, without one glaring weakness dragging it down.
Who should move to Kyoto?
Based on its score profile, Kyoto suits people who value safety and environment & air quality more than the average mover — see the "Who Kyoto suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Kyoto walkable, and is public transport good?
Yes — Kyoto scores 8/10 on transport, dense and reliable enough that a car is genuinely optional for most residents.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Kyoto?
Safety is Kyoto's standout strength, scoring 9/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Kyoto?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 6/10 — the lowest of Kyoto's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.