Livability Report
Kobe
Hyogo·Pop. 1,525,152·Data: 2024·Updated Mar 2026
Analyzing Kobe (Hyogo) livability across safety, transport, education, and healthcare. Objective scores based on government open data (e-Stat).
Overall Score
/ 100
5-Axis Score Breakdown
Basic Information
Population
1,525,152
Prefecture
Hyogo
Data Year
2024
Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinics | 1,645 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 10.79 |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 6.94 |
| Hospitals | 110 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.72 |
| Total Population | 1,525,152 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 45.9 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 270 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.18 |
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
Overall
Alex
Kobe is known as a port city, but what does the overall livability picture look like?
Yuki
As a designated city with over 1.5 million people, I'm curious about the balance across indicators.
Kai
Kobe has a population of approximately 1,525,152 with an overall score of 52.1. Its defining characteristic is balance — transport at 75.1, education at 53.8, and healthcare at 39.8, with no extremely low scores. Notably, clinic density stands at 10.90 per 10,000 residents, highlighting excellent everyday medical access. All scores are based on relative comparison among 20 cities.
Safety
Alex
The safety score of 39.9 is a bit low. What do the actual numbers show?
Yuki
I'd like to see the specific crime rate data. Does proximity to Osaka have an effect?
Kai
Kobe's crime rate is 6.54 per 1,000 residents, with a safety score of 39.9, placing it in the lower range among the 20 cities. This is partly due to its entertainment and commercial districts as a designated city. There is a significant difference in perceived safety between the Sannomiya-Motomachi entertainment district and residential areas like Higashinada and Nada wards.
Cost of Living
Alex
How much does it cost to live in Kobe? Is it more expensive than Osaka?
Yuki
Land price data would allow an objective comparison.
Kai
Land price data has not yet been collected, so the cost score is currently null. As a general reference, studio apartments near Sannomiya run about 50,000-70,000 yen/month, while residential areas in Higashinada and Nada wards range from 60,000-80,000 yen/month. This is slightly cheaper than central Osaka, making Kobe relatively affordable within the Keihanshin metropolitan area. Official scores will be calculated once published land price data is incorporated.
Transport
Alex
A transport score of 75.1 is fairly high. What kind of transit network does Kobe have?
Yuki
I'd like to know about commuting access to Osaka as well.
Kai
Kobe's public transit usage rate is 46.4%, earning a transport score of 75.1. Three major rail lines — JR Kobe Line, Hankyu Kobe Line, and Hanshin Main Line — connect to central Osaka in about 30 minutes. Within the city, the Kobe Municipal Subway and Port Liner also operate. The 46.4% transit usage rate is high for a city of 1.5 million, and its location makes it convenient for commuting to Osaka.
Education
Alex
The education score of 53.8 is moderate. Are there enough schools?
Yuki
What is the school density per capita?
Kai
Kobe has 310 schools at a density of 0.17 per 1,000 residents. The education score of 53.8 places it mid-range among the 20 cities, maintaining average school density for a major city. The 310 schools are well-distributed across the city's wards, and several prestigious national and private schools provide diverse educational options.
Healthcare
Alex
The healthcare score is 39.8, but isn't Kobe also known as a medical city?
Yuki
Can you give us numbers for both hospitals and clinics?
Kai
Kobe has 102 hospitals (0.67 per 10,000 residents) and 1,663 clinics (10.90 per 10,000). The clinic density of 10.90 is among the highest of all 20 cities. While the healthcare score of 39.8 reflects the relative hospital count, the abundant clinics compensate significantly. The Biomedical Innovation Cluster on Port Island also brings advanced medical facilities, providing excellent access to cutting-edge healthcare.