Cost Of Living For a Couple in Japan 2024

Average monthly spending for couples in Japan

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Japan?

Couples in Japan spend around 560,000 JPY per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 190,000 JPY or as high as 3M JPY. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Japan

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Japan

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in Japan spend around 80% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 71% of their income while some as high as 88%.

How do couples spend their money in Japan?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Japan typically spend from 22% to 39% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 29% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 190,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 64,000 JPY to 1M JPY. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Japan ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 25,000 JPY with 7,500 JPY and 170,000 JPY being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 23,000 JPY to 360,000 JPY in a month on commuting with 68,000 JPY being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 10% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 15%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Japan is 79,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 26,000 JPY to 420,000 JPY. Couples spend on average about 16% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 11% and 21% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in Japan allocate 7% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 13%. The range of medical expenses range from 21,000 JPY to 330,000 JPY with 62,000 JPY being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 11,000 JPY to 180,000 JPY with 34,000 JPY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 2% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 1% and 4% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 11,000 JPY per month with 3,800 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 60,000 JPY being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in Japan are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 66% of surveyed couples in Japan said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 34% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 10% to 30% of their monthly income to their savings, with 19% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 220,000 JPY with 74,000 JPY and 1.2M JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Japan

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Japan. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 18% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 9% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 17% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in Japan

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Japan

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Japan?

Around 74% of surveyed couples think that living in Japan is affordable with proper budgeting while 26% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Japan

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options61%

Few low-cost options39%

Based on the survey, 61% of the couples living in Japan have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 39% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of Japan whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes72%

No28%

Based on the survey, 28% of the couples living in Japan said that they don't have an emergency fund while 72% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Japan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy69%

We asked couple guardians and parents in Japan whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 31% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 69% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Japan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 28% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 72% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance28%

Easily manages finances72%

Financial goals of couples in Japan

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Japan, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 34% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 9% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 9% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Japan

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the couples in Japan have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Japan

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 29% of a couple's monthly income in Japan goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Japan pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 12% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 15% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Japan

13% of debtors in Japan confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 25% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 22% of people and personal loans rose at 37%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Japan.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Japan

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Japan how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Japan

Rent Cost in Japan

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

44,000 JPY

66,000 JPY

180,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$440

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

66,000 JPY

110,000 JPY

260,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440

$700

$1,700

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

88,000 JPY

130,000 JPY

350,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580

$870

$2,300

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

110,000 JPY

180,000 JPY

480,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700

$1,200

$3,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

210,000 JPY

530,000 JPY

1.1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,500

$7,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

180,000 JPY

260,000 JPY

750,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,700

$5,000

House monthly rent cost

210,000 JPY

530,000 JPY

1.1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,500

$7,000

Villa monthly rent cost

260,000 JPY

660,000 JPY

1.1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$4,400

$7,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Japan ranges between 44,000 JPY and 180,000 JPY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 66,000 JPY to 260,000 JPY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 88,000 JPY and 350,000 JPY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 110,000 JPY to 480,000 JPY. The average rent of a townhouse in Japan is around 260,000 JPY while house rental costs can be as high as 530,000 JPY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 260,000 JPY to 1.1M JPY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Japan

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

8.8M JPY

13M JPY

26M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$58,000

$87,000

$170,000

1-bedroom apartment price

11M JPY

18M JPY

66M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$70,000

$120,000

$440,000

2-bedroom apartment price

18M JPY

53M JPY

110M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$350,000

$700,000

3-bedroom apartment price

58M JPY

88M JPY

260M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390,000

$580,000

$1.7M

Townhouse price

75M JPY

180M JPY

660M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500,000

$1.2M

$4.4M

House price

88M JPY

530M JPY

750M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580,000

$3.5M

$5M

Villa price

110M JPY

580M JPY

880M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700,000

$3.9M

$5.8M

The average price of a studio apartment in Japan can range from 8.8M JPY to 26M JPY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 11M JPY to 66M JPY. A villa can cost you 580M JPY on average with prices ranging from 110M JPY to 880M JPY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Japan can be x115 to x209 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x115 multiples of the average monthly salary in Japan.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Japan is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Japan

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Japan

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

7,500 JPY

25,000 JPY

170,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$50

$170

$1,100

Internet and cable cost

2,600 JPY

5,300 JPY

7,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$35

$47

Mobile phone bill and charges

2,100 JPY

3,500 JPY

11,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14

$23

$70

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 25,000 JPY. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 2,600 JPY to 7,000 JPY with 5,300 JPY being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 3,500 JPY but can range between 2,100 JPY and 11,000 JPY depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Japan is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Japan

Prices and cost of goods and services in Japan

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

530 JPY

1,100 JPY

1,800 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.5

$7

$12

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Japan is approximatly 1,100 JPY with meal cost ranging from 530 JPY to 1,800 JPY. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,800 JPY

2,600 JPY

5,300 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$17

$35

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,800 JPY and 5,300 JPY with 2,600 JPY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Japan.

Fine dining meal for one price

3,500 JPY

5,300 JPY

21,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$35

$140

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 3,500 JPY to 21,000 JPY with the average cost being 5,300 JPY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Japan.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

440 JPY

700 JPY

1,100 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.7

$7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Japan is around 700 JPY. Price ranges between 440 JPY and 1,100 JPY depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

350 JPY

420 JPY

530 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$2.8

$3.5

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Japan is 420 JPY. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 530 JPY and the minimum being 350 JPY depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

260 JPY

350 JPY

530 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.3

$3.5

A dozen eggs costs around 350 JPY on average with 260 JPY and 530 JPY being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

600 JPY

770 JPY

1,100 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4

$5.1

$7.3

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Japan is between 600 JPY and 1,100 JPY depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 770 JPY.

Pack of beef price

700 JPY

1,100 JPY

2,100 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.7

$7

$14

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 1,100 JPY. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

280 JPY

390 JPY

550 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$2.6

$3.6

A bag of rice in Japan costs around 390 JPY on average with prices rangeing between 280 JPY and 550 JPY depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

110 JPY

140 JPY

260 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.70

$0.93

$1.7

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 110 JPY to 260 JPY. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

190 JPY

250 JPY

400 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.7

A bag of apples costs 250 JPY on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Japan is around 26%. This means that couples spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples