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If you are seriously considering living in Japan, what you want to know the most is probably the cost of living and other issues related to budgeting. Rent, commuting fees, phone bills, food expenses etc. all parts of your monthly living expenses that you want to keep minimal. However, it’s necessary to first understand the average cost of goods and services. Let’s go ahead and check out the average living expenses in Japan and learn the secrets to a lifestyle that minimises superfluous expenses.
How much do foreigners living in Japan actually spend every month?
According to JASSO (Japan Student Service Organization）’s 2018 investigation report which surveyed 7,000 self-funded exchange students studying at universities or vocational schools in Japan, the monthly living expenses taken as an average across Japan is as follows:
学習研究費 Studying and research expenses 49,000円
通学費 Commuting expenses 5,000円
食費 Food expenses 27,000円
住居費 Rent 34,000円
電気、ガス、水道料金 Electricity, gas, and water bills 7,000円
保険、医療費 Insurance and medical expenses 3,000円
趣味、娯楽費 Hobbies and entertainment expenses 6,000円
その他の生活費 Other living expenses 7,000円
残額 Money remaining 9,000円
合計 Total：147,000円
Due to the fact that the report studied the living expenses of exchange students, we should keep in mind that these numbers are likely to have been derived from cheaper forms of accommodation or rent, such as student dorms. In Tokyo where rent is high, a one-room style unit designed for 1 person costs between 50,000 and 70,000 JPY, and if it happens to be located in a metropolitan area which the JR Yamanote Line passes, it can even exceed 100,000 JPY. If you choose a share house, your monthly rent will be at least 30,000 JPY. In comparison to large cities in other developed countries, this is not a particularly large amount. However, apartments for rent and small one-room type units in Japan are on the smaller side, at around 20m2.
Start-up costs for a new life
In Japan, some properties for rent, such as Leopalace, share houses and student dorms, come furnished with electrical appliances and furniture. However, there are other properties for rent where you have to buy these items yourself.
If you go to a large electrical appliances store such as Bic Camera and Yamada Denki, you should be able to get a fridge, washing machine and microwave at around 50,000 JPY in total, as the lower limit. If you want to get a TV, vacuum cleaner, rice cooker and an electric fan as well, you should expect to add another 20,000~30,000 JPY in your budget. If there are coin laundries near your residence, you should be able to use it for around 600 JPY each time, so there may not be a need for you to get a washing machine.
If you will stay in Japan for around 1~3 months, then you also have the choice of renting electrical appliances. Rental companies like Kashite! Dot com enable you to rent a fridge, washing machine and microwave as 3 items in a set for under 30,000 JPY for 30 days. If your rental period is 1 year, it will only cost you 40,000 JPY, so it can be more economical to rent than purchase these items.
In Japan, Nitori and the Swedish brand IKEA (in Japan it is pronounced ee-keh-ah) are famous for selling new furniture at low prices. At Nitori, you can get a bed frame for around 10,000 JPY and a low table from about 2,000 JPY.
If you’re looking to get second-hand electrical appliances or furniture, one method is to use personal-selling websites like craigslist. However, the downside to this website is that you have to personally arrange delivery, so you might want to consider paying for home-delivery from your local second-hand store once you’ve decided on a place to stay.
Costs of miscellaneous lifestyle goods
If you aren’t looking for particularly high-quality miscellaneous lifestyle goods such as cutlery, kitchen tools, clothes pegs, towels, and shower curtains, the wisest method is to get them from 100 yen shops. As their name indicates, you can get your hands on just about all miscellaneous lifestyle goods at the surprisingly cheap price of 100JPY plus consumption tax. 100 yen shops can be found in various in shopping streets and malls around Japan.
Large items that you can’t get at 100 yen shops, such as saucepans and curtains, can be purchased at at relatively low price at major supermarkets such as SEIYU and AEON.
The cost of eating out and commodities
Japan also has plenty of cheap meals, such as McDonald’s 100 yen hamburger and Yoshinoya’s 490 yen beef bowl. At chain stores known as “family restaurants”, you are able to get a set meal providing you with a good nutritional balance for around 1,000 JPY, and access to an unlimited drink bar for an additional 200 JPY. This option is popular amongst young people who like to study whilst dining and getting unlimited coffee.
Japan of course is famous for sushi. At sushi trains, 1 plate (containing 2 pieces of nigiri sushi) can cost just 100 yen. On the other end of the spectrum, high-class restaurants where you sit by the counter will cost you 3,000 JPY for 1 piece of nigiri sushi. The vastly different prices reflect the quality of the ingredients and the service of the wait staff.
Generally speaking, people purchase their daily commodities from supermarkets. However, you can enjoy some banter with the owners of traditional greengrocers, fishmongers and butchers. There isn’t a particularly large difference in price, but supermarkets are convenient in that you can check their prices online before going in and making your purchase.
＜Estimated costs of commodities in Japan＞
米Rice 5kg 1,700円
牛乳 Milk 1L 200円
パスタ（乾麺）Pasta (uncooked) 500g 400円
食パンBread 400g 200円
牛肉Beef 100g 120円
鶏むね肉Chicken breast 100g 70円
玉ねぎOnion 1個 50円
りんごApple 1個 100円
These prices fluctuate seasonally, but you may find that Japan’s commodity prices as a whole are generally cheaper than European commodity prices. If you cut down on eating out and increase the times that you cook at home, you can save more than 20,000 JPY per month on food expenses.
Having said that, on days where you are too tired to make lunch, you can opt for 500 JPY bentos,150 JPY bread, and 100 JPY onigiri at the convenience stores.
The cost of a mobile phone and internet
The mobile phone plans easiest for foreigners living in Japan to use will cost 3,000~7,000JPY per month, including both internet, talk and text. These fees will differ based on the data package you opt for and the free-calling period included. If you are working in Japan or have a contract with a real estate agent, you are required to have a Japanese phone number.
Things you should know before staying in Japan: SIM Cards
Related article: Things you should know before staying in Japan: SIM Cards
If you are living in Japan by yourself, it is necessary for you to get a contract with a home-use internet provider. There are cases where this is already included in your rent, but in the cases where it isn’t, be prepared to fork out 5,000~9,000 JPY every month.
Things you should know before staying in Japan: SIM Cards
The cost of trains, buses, and taxis, a huge cut in your living expense in Japan
There are cases where companies in Japan will cover your return fare to and from work. Trains cost within 200 JPY one-way for 1~3 stops, but if you are traveling a long-distance, make sure to compare the tickets between bullet trains and planes, in particular, during New Year’s Day, Golden Week in May, and the Obon Festival in August. In parallel to the increase in movement of people due to these consecutive public holidays, it is common for ticket prices of bullet trains and planes to increase.
Check JR and Tokyo Metro for more details.
Buses are also a cheap and convenient method of getting around. In Tokyo, the city buses cost you 210 JPY for 1 trip, regardless of the distance traveled. If you pay by a commuter’s card such as PASMO, you can even receive a discount.
If you want to use a taxi within the 23 wards in Tokyo, the starting fare (first 1 kilometer) costs just 410 JPY. However, the concept of the starting fare differs from area to area. For instance, the starting fare in Osaka is 680 JPY for the first 2 kilometers. Either way, it will be displayed on the side of the taxi.
Living in Japan, you will find commodity prices vary from area to area. It is common for prices to be higher in metropolitan areas and lower in the countryside. Deciding on where you will live after factoring in your budget and living costs is probably a good idea.