Livability Report
Kyoto
Kyoto·Pop. 1,463,723·Data: 2024·Updated Mar 2026
Analyzing Kyoto's (Kyoto Prefecture) 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
1,463,723
Prefecture
Kyoto
Data Year
2024
Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinics | 1,621 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 11.07 |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 4.69 |
| Hospitals | 95 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.65 |
| Total Population | 1,463,723 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 31.9 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 255 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.17 |
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
Overall
Alex
Kyoto is famous for tourism, but what's it actually like to live there? What's the overall score?
Yuki
The historic streetscapes are beautiful, but I'm curious about the day-to-day livability data.
Kai
Kyoto's overall score is 52.6. With a population of about 1.46 million, it's a designated city where safety stands out at 80.5. However, transport is 49.7, education 46.2, and healthcare 33.9 — areas beyond safety are more modest. As a tourism city, central areas can get crowded, but the city has over 1,560 clinics (10.66 per 10,000 residents), which is a notable strength.
Safety
Alex
How safe is Kyoto? I'd imagine more tourists means more crime.
Yuki
A safety score of 80.5 is pretty high. What's the actual crime rate?
Kai
Kyoto's crime rate is 4.47 per 1,000 residents, giving it a safety score of 80.5. Despite the large tourist population, the numbers are relatively calm. Areas like Shijo-Kawaramachi and Kyoto Station get busy, so petty crime awareness is wise. Residential neighborhoods in Kita-ku, Sakyo-ku, and Yamashina-ku are quieter and popular with families.
Cost of Living
Alex
How much does it cost to live in Kyoto? How does it compare to Tokyo?
Yuki
Being a tourist destination, rent must be high... is there actual data?
Kai
Unfortunately, land price data hasn't been collected yet, so the cost score is null. As a general guide, a 1LDK in Kyoto runs about 70,000-90,000 yen per month. Central Nakagyo-ku and Shimogyo-ku are pricier due to tourism demand, while Fushimi-ku and Nishikyo-ku can offer units around 60,000 yen. Note that some areas have seen rental supply decrease as properties are converted to tourist accommodations.
Transport
Alex
Is public transit in Kyoto convenient? I hear the buses get really crowded.
Yuki
A transport score of 49.7 seems mediocre. What train lines are available?
Kai
Kyoto's public transit usage rate is 34.0%, with a transport score of 49.7. The subway has two lines (Karasuma and Tozai), plus JR, Hankyu, Keihan, and Kintetsu railways serve the city. The limited subway coverage means heavy reliance on city buses, which get extremely crowded during tourist seasons. Cycling is also popular — the flat city center makes it a viable commuting option.
Education
Alex
Kyoto has tons of universities, but what about elementary and junior high schools?
Yuki
An education score of 46.2 seems low for a city known for academia.
Kai
Kyoto has 292 schools at a density of 0.16 per 1,000 residents, giving an education score of 46.2. With around 40 universities and colleges, higher education is outstanding, but our score measures K-12 school density, so the large population brings the ratio down. Historically, Kyoto is known for its emphasis on education, and public school test scores tend to exceed the national average.
Healthcare
Alex
What's the healthcare situation in Kyoto? Are there many large hospitals?
Yuki
A healthcare score of 33.9 looks low, but what are the actual numbers?
Kai
Kyoto has 100 hospitals (0.68 per 10,000 residents) and 1,560 clinics (10.66 per 10,000). The hospital density is lower, keeping the score at 33.9, but the clinic density of 10.66 ranks among the top in our 20-city dataset. With Kyoto University Hospital and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital providing advanced care, healthcare access — from family doctors to specialist treatment — is actually quite comprehensive.