Is Living in Japan Expensive? Spending 1 Month in Japan & Saving Tips

Japan is famous as one of the countries with a high standard of living, making many people worry about the cost of living when coming here to study or work. So in reality "1 month expenses in Japan” Is it really as expensive as rumored? In this article, we will analyze each expense in detail and give tips to help you save effectively when living in Japan.

Monthly expenses in Japan

To understand 1 month expenses in Japan, we need to analyze each specific expense. Below are the main expenses that you will face when living in this country.

Rent cost

Housing accounts for the majority of 1 month expenses in Japan of most people. This cost varies significantly between regions and cities.

In Tokyo, a studio apartment (1K) can range from 70.000 - 150.000 yen/month (about 11-24 million VND). While in smaller cities like Fukuoka or Sapporo, the rent is only about 60-70% of that in the capital.

In addition to the monthly rent, you need to pay attention to some fees when renting a house in Japan:

• Deposit (Shikikin): usually equal to 1-2 months rent
• Landlord's Thank You Money (Reikin): about 1-2 months rent
• Brokerage fee: about 1 month's rent
• Contract renewal fee: usually payable every 2 years, approximately 1 month's rent

An economical solution is to choose a house a little further from the center or live in a share house with prices ranging from 40.000 - 70.000 yen/month (about 6-11 million VND).

Food cost

Food is an expense. 1 month expenses in Japan indispensable and flexible depending on your budget.

If you eat out regularly, the cost can be up to 80.000 – 100.000 yen/month (13-16 million VND). A meal at a casual restaurant costs around 800 – 1.500 yen, while a high-end restaurant can cost 3.000 yen or more.

Cooking at home will be much more economical, with a cost of around 30.000 - 50.000 yen/month (5-8 million VND). Japanese supermarkets often discount food at the end of the day (usually from 19pm onwards), helping you save significantly if you shop at the right time.

In addition, convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart also offer quality food at affordable prices, around 400-700 yen for a meal.

Cost of electricity, water, gas, internet

Monthly utility costs are an integral part of 1 month expenses in Japan. This total cost usually ranges from 15.000 - 30.000 yen (2.5-5 million VND), depending on the season and usage habits.

• Electricity: 4.000 – 10.000 yen/month (higher in summer and winter due to use of air conditioning/heating)
• Water: 2.000 – 5.000 yen/month
• Gas: 3.000 – 8.000 yen/month
• Internet: 3.000 – 6.000 yen/month (depending on package and provider)

It is worth noting that many apartments in Japan use a prepaid system for utilities, so you need to proactively top up before using.

Travel expenses

Public transport in Japan is developed but not cheap, accounting for a significant part of the 1 month expenses in JapanSome reference information:

• One-way train ticket in Tokyo: 150 – 500 yen depending on distance
• Monthly train card: 10.000 – 20.000 yen depending on route and distance
• Taxi: starting price around 410 yen, then charged by km (quite expensive)

If you are a student or a company employee, you may be eligible for partial or full coverage of your travel expenses. Many Japanese companies offer a travel allowance (Koutsuuhi) to their employees.

Buying a bicycle (15.000 – 30.000 yen) is also a good option to save on daily transportation costs, especially if you live close to work or school.

Insurance and tax costs

Insurance and taxes are expenses. 1 month expenses in Japan Required for long term residents:

• National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken): about 5% of income, minimum 1.500 yen/month
• National Pension Insurance (Kokumin Nenkin): about 16.590 yen/month (fixed)
• Residence tax (Juminzei): calculated based on income, usually from 5.000 - 15.000 yen/month

For international students or full-time workers, many insurances are discounted or partially subsidized by the company/school.

Personal expenses

In addition to basic expenses, personal needs such as entertainment, shopping, and education also make up a significant part of the budget. 1 month expenses in Japan:

• Gym: 6.000 – 15.000 yen/month
• Movie theater: 1.800 – 2.000 yen/ticket (student discount)
• Shopping for clothes: 10.000 – 30.000 yen/month (depending on needs)
• Mobile phone: 3.000 – 8.000 yen/month (depending on package)
• Additional Japanese language courses: 20.000 - 40.000 yen/month (if studying at the center)

In Japan, there are many 100 yen store chains (like Daiso, Seria) that sell a wide variety of products at affordable prices, helping you save significantly on your daily necessities.

Average monthly expenditure in Japan

When summing up the above expenses, 1 month expenses in Japan The average person can range as follows:

• In Tokyo and major cities: 150.000 – 250.000 yen (24-40 million VND)
• In medium and small cities: 120.000 – 180.000 yen (19-29 million VND)

Of course, this figure can vary significantly depending on each person’s lifestyle and spending habits. Those who live a frugal life can cut their expenses down to around 100.000 – 130.000 yen/month (VND 16-21 million), while those with a high-end lifestyle can spend much more.

How to save money while living in Japan

To keep your monthly expenses in Japan to a minimum, you should know the following tips to save most effectively:

• House: Choose suburban areas or share houses, with rent only half that of the center.
• Eating: Cook for yourself and buy food at the end of the day when the supermarket has sales (usually from 19pm). Use a food discount app like Kuradashi.
• Traffic: Use a bicycle for short distances and buy a monthly pass if you travel the same route frequently. IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) are cheaper than single tickets.
• Shopping: Take advantage of 100 yen stores (Daiso, Seria), buy second-hand items (Book Off, Hard Off) and hunt for seasonal sales (January and July).
• Utilities: Limit the use of air conditioners/heaters, turn off electrical appliances when not in use, use water efficiently.

Q&A about spending 1 month in Japan

How much money do international students in Japan need each month for living expenses?

International students usually need about 100.000-150.000 yen (16-24 million VND) for 1 month expenses in Japan, including rent, food, transportation, and other expenses. Many universities have low-cost dormitories for international students, which significantly reduces housing costs.

Is eating in Japan expensive?

Eating and drinking accounts for 20-30% of 1 month expenses in Japan. There are many budget-friendly options: lunch at a casual restaurant (600-1.200 yen), ramen (700-1.200 yen/bowl), bento at the supermarket (400-700 yen), onigiri at the convenience store (100-200 yen/piece). Cooking for yourself is always the most economical way, with ingredients costing only about 5.000-8.000 yen/week.

Can international students work part-time to cover expenses?

International students in Japan are allowed to work up to 28 hours/week, with an average salary of 1.000-1.200 yen/hour. Thus, you can earn about 100.000-130.000 yen/month, enough to cover most of your expenses. 1 month expenses in Japan. Note that you need to apply for a "Permit to work outside of your residence status" before working part-time.

Which city has the most expensive cost of living in Japan?

Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama are the cities with the highest standard of living, with rent and living costs more expensive than other prefectures.

1 month expenses in Japan can range from 100.000 to 250.000 yen depending on the city, lifestyle and ability to manage personal finances. Although Japan is considered a country with a high cost of living, with reasonable financial planning and applying saving tips, you can still enjoy life in this country without too much financial pressure.

Living away from home is not easy, but with T-connect, you will always feel close. We provide high-quality telecommunication service packages such as SIM or wifi in Japan, supporting you to connect with loved ones and convenient in daily life.

T-connect Team