Tokyo — or Japan in general — is known to be one of the most expensive places to live in the world. But living in Japan as a student is not impossible — or, at least, not impossibly expensive. And although it all boils down to a few factors, you will find that the general living expenses in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, or Kyoto can still be under a reasonable budget. 

Generally, Tokyo is more convenient for international students, and you will be less shocked compared if you go to New York or London. Abundant cheap eateries, a convenient transportation system, and subsidized tuition fees can help alleviate that financial strain. 

Excluding your school tuition, whether it be for vocational and Japanese language school or university, we’re giving an overview of living costs for foreign students in Japan based on different categories. Before that, we want to keep a few things in mind. 

Want to study and live in Japan on a 6+ month program? Find the perfect language school and make your student visa application easy with Coto School Finder’s free service! Contact us for a free consultation and full support!

If you would like to learn more, check out our full guide on how to study in Japan.

What to Consider When Planning Your Budget to Live in Japan

1. Area

In general, rent is cheapest in the outskirts of Japan’s three major cities: Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, but even if you choose to live here, different neighborhoods can drastically reduce the price of your accommodation expenses. It’s your choice to splurge more to be near major stations like Shinjuku Station or Shibuya Station or take a more affordable route and find an apartment in an area that is a little bit further.

The eastern- and northern ards are the most budget-friendly wards in Tokyo, like Itabashi, Adachi, Arakawa and Nerima. Which do you prioritize more: budget, space or commute time?

A general tip is to look at the train lines. For example, if your Japanese language school is located in Shibuya, where an average 1R (one-room) apartment is ¥97,100, you might want to find an apartment (or a sharehouse) in Ota and Setagaya, where an apartment of the same size can go as low as ¥60,000. At the same time, you don’t need to sacrifice too much commuting time for the trade-off of lower rent. 

2. Lifestyle

When you move to a new country, it’s best to adhere to that country’s standards and lifestyle. Plenty of people complain about Japan being expensive due to them being either from a cheaper country, not setting expectations correctly, or not changing their lifestyle.

Are you going to live alone, risking higher rent and utility costs, or share an apartment with a roommate to split the cost? Recently, flat-sharing has been popular among international students. 

A lot of universities and agents provide accommodations and dorms,  but these places are typically limited, too. Check out Oak House and Tokyo Share House. 

3. Hidden Expenses

If you think you’ve had all the budget planned before you arrive in Japan, think again. Avoid getting another whiplash by knowing some hidden (and miscellaneous) expenses that can tip your budget scale.

• Medical insurance

All foreign students in Japan are required to join the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, which is usually calculated based on your income. However, as a student, your premium will be discounted if you earn little to no income. 

Medical insurance. All students are required to enter the national health insurance scheme which costs about ¥2,500 ($19) per month.

• Book and learning materials

Textbooks and study materials for your school can go up to ¥10,000 per semester. If you’re a university student, you may be required to purchase textbooks — which, admittedly, can be ridiculously expensive. 

• Apartment fee

Decide to move to a place on your own (or with a roommate)? Don’t be surprised when you see the upfront cost. A good rule of thumb is to set aside four to five times the monthly rent for the initial move-in fees. For example, if your rent is ¥100,000, then the initial costs will be around ¥400,000 to ¥600,000.

• Security Deposit 敷金 (shikikin): Typically 1 month’s rent.
• Key money 礼金 (reikin): Upfront fee you pay to the landlord to sign the contract. Typically between 1-2 months’ rent.
• Guarantor fees 保証人費用 (hoshonin hiyo). A fee you pay to a guarantor company to act as your guarantor. Typically around 50%-100% of a month’s rent.
• Rental agency fees 仲介料 (chuukairyou). Payable to the real estate company by the renter. Generally equal to one month’s rent + 10% consumption tax.
• Contract renewal fees 更新料 (koushinryou). Payable to landlord two years after the start of a contract at the time of contract renewal that cannot be refunded. Typically 1 month’s worth of rent.

• Internet Installation

When you’ve found your own place that doesn’t provide internet access, you will need to choose your internet service. Unfortunately, companies may require installation fee, which ranges from ¥15,000 to ¥30,000 for apartments and condominiums.

Cost of Living in Japan as A Student

Tokyo has the highest average monthly expenses for international students. The national average living cost (excluding tuition fees) is ¥93,000. 

Rent and Accommodation Expenses in Japan

The average monthly rent for students in Tokyo is approximately ¥50,000 to ¥70,000,  although you should be aware that this is not representative of the true cost of renting for the first time in the capital (check the Japanese apartment’s initial cost here).

This also greatly depends on your preference, budget and decision. Living alone in a privately rented apartment will automatically scale the rent up. If you’re looking to cut down the cost, choose to have one (or several) roommates.

Accommodation will generally take the biggest part of your living expenses in Japan. You can choose between several options. Living with a host family, dormitories or guesthouses may save you some money, as utilities (water, electricity and gas) are usually included in the rent.

• University-owned dormitories
• Guesthouses
• Host family
• Private apartment

Utilities

The average cost for utilities for one person is about ¥10,000 a month: ¥4,000 for electricity, ¥3,000 for gas and ¥2,000 for water. The water bill is basically paid once every two months in a lump sum, while electricity and gas bills are delivered to your address every month.

 In summer and winter, the air conditioner is often turned on, so the electricity bill will be higher. Expect it to go as high as ¥6,000 around January to early March, when most regions in Japan are at their coldest as reported by Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Mobile and Internet Subscription

If you live in Japan long enough, getting a new phone number is more convenient than sticking to one you currently have. You’ll need a phone number for everything essential: opening a bank account, applying for a job, moving to an apartment or registering a credit card.

Be careful with the voice communications part of the plan. Some plans have no included communications, so every time you call, it’s extra on your monthly invoice. Some plans have one hour total per month free, regardless of the length of each individual call.

If you’re not careful in choosing your mobile plan, you may pay up to ¥4,500 a month. Affordable phone plans in Japan we recommend are:

1. LINEMO (formerly known as Line Mobile)
2. Sakura Mobile
3. Rakuten Mobile

Internet services in Japan can also be costly. They start from ¥3,355 a month and can go up to ¥6,000, depending on the service provider.

Food

Next to rent, food expenses will take up the second-highest portion of your living cost. We estimate that, for a single foreign student, weekly groceries go up to ¥5,000 a week. International students usually spend more on food due to the difference in the food availability in Japan. Costs will drop if you are only cooking for yourself every day.

While Japanese supermarkets are fairly cheap in Tokyo, fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be more on the expensive side.

Although there are a lot of budget restaurant chains and fast foods in Japan, eating out every day can easily bump up your food expenses. Convenience stores have good options of well-balanced meals (onigiri, salad, sandwiches) for ¥200-500. If you eat out for brunch in Tokyo or an izakaya once a week, for example, you will roughly spend ¥25,000-30,000 for food.

Transportation

Thankfully, as a student, even if you live a few stations away from your school or university, you will get a discounted commuter pass (定期券, teikiken). Since the commuter pass is also a Suica/Pasmo card, you can charge the card with extra money. When you travel outside your specified route, the cheapest route will be calculated when you exit, so you will be able to use the benefits of the commuter passcard even when traveling to a different station. 

The average 1-month cost for students is roughly ¥5,000, which includes going out, commuter pass and part-time transportation expenses.

Tax, Pensiun and Health Insurance

If you have a part-time job in Japan, your income tax is taken right out of your monthly stipend. Even if you are a student, if you have income above a certain amount, you have to pay taxes in the same way as Japanese nationals. If you earn less than ¥930,000 a year, you are not required to pay income and resident tax.

Health insurance, which is compulsory for all long-term residents of Japan, is around ¥1,600 a month, but the premium is calculated according to your previous year’s income — including your part-time job. Unless you make a declaration of your income, it wouldn’t be calculated accurately.

Hobbies and Entertainment

Going to the theatre, bowling alley or batting center involves money. We’d say to do whatever floats your boat, but if you’re looking to stay under budget, keep in mind how easy it is to fall down the rabbit hole of spending, spending and spending.

For social activities like going to karaoke, movie theatre or museum, the total amount greatly depends on your lifestyle — and how active you are. If you’re the type to go out every day, expect ¥15,000 for entertainment. If you’re looking to save up while still having fun, there are plenty of free and fun things to do in Japan. Public museums will usually have a student discount, which means you can buy exhibition tickets at a discounted price, or even free. Go to parks, see the winter illumination or take a stroll down the river bank during Sakura season.

Overview: The Big Picture of Living in Japan

For students studying in Japan, below is a monthly breakdown if you are living alone in a one-bedroom apartment in Tokyo:

Again, if you live on the outskirts of Tokyo or in other prefectures (like Saitama) with a roommate, the rent will significantly decrease. A good ballpark is to think that, in Tokyo, the average cost for an international student is roughly ¥100,000 a month.

If you are under budget and choose to make more frugal decisions, you can push it down to as low as ¥70,000-80,000.

Want to live and study in Japan? Get your application started today!

Coto is excited to announce that we’re offering a matching service to help students find a Japanese language school that provides student visas.

So if you want to come to Japan, let us help you! We provide free support — no agent fee. Our goal is to help make your dream of moving to Japan come true. Find a language school today and contact us!