Cost Of Living For a Couple in Tokyo 2024

Average monthly spending for couples in Tokyo

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

Couples in Tokyo spend around 630,000 JPY per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 210,000 JPY or as high as 3.4M JPY. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Tokyo

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

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 Tokyo spend around 89% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 80% of their income while some as high as 99%.

How do couples spend their money in Tokyo?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Tokyo 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 210,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 71,000 JPY to 1.1M 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 Tokyo ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 28,000 JPY with 8,400 JPY and 180,000 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 25,000 JPY to 400,000 JPY in a month on commuting with 75,000 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 Tokyo is 88,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 29,000 JPY to 470,000 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 Tokyo 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 23,000 JPY to 370,000 JPY with 69,000 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 13,000 JPY to 200,000 JPY with 38,000 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 13,000 JPY per month with 4,200 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 67,000 JPY being the maximum.

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

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 74% of surveyed couples in Tokyo said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 27% 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 11% to 34% of their monthly income to their savings, with 21% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 250,000 JPY with 83,000 JPY and 1.3M JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Tokyo

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Tokyo. 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. 10% 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 Tokyo

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 Tokyo

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Tokyo?

Around 83% of surveyed couples think that living in Tokyo is affordable with proper budgeting while 18% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Tokyo

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 options68%

Few low-cost options32%

Based on the survey, 68% of the couples living in Tokyo have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 32% 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 Tokyo whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes80%

No20%

Based on the survey, 20% of the couples living in Tokyo said that they don't have an emergency fund while 80% 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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Tokyo, 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. 8% 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 Tokyo

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 30% of the couples in Tokyo have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 70% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Tokyo

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 32% of a couple's monthly income in Tokyo goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Tokyo 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 Tokyo

13% of debtors in Tokyo 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 Tokyo.

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 Tokyo

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Tokyo 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 Tokyo

Rent Cost in Tokyo

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

49,000 JPY

73,000 JPY

200,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320

$490

$1,300

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

73,000 JPY

120,000 JPY

290,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$490

$780

$1,900

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

98,000 JPY

150,000 JPY

390,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$650

$970

$2,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

120,000 JPY

200,000 JPY

530,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$780

$1,300

$3,500

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

230,000 JPY

590,000 JPY

1.2M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,600

$3,900

$7,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

200,000 JPY

290,000 JPY

840,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$1,900

$5,600

House monthly rent cost

230,000 JPY

590,000 JPY

1.2M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,600

$3,900

$7,800

Villa monthly rent cost

290,000 JPY

730,000 JPY

1.2M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,900

$4,900

$7,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Tokyo ranges between 49,000 JPY and 200,000 JPY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 73,000 JPY to 290,000 JPY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 98,000 JPY and 390,000 JPY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 120,000 JPY to 530,000 JPY. The average rent of a townhouse in Tokyo is around 290,000 JPY while house rental costs can be as high as 590,000 JPY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 290,000 JPY to 1.2M JPY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Tokyo

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

9.8M JPY

15M JPY

29M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$65,000

$97,000

$190,000

1-bedroom apartment price

12M JPY

20M JPY

73M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$78,000

$130,000

$490,000

2-bedroom apartment price

20M JPY

59M JPY

120M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$390,000

$780,000

3-bedroom apartment price

65M JPY

98M JPY

290M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430,000

$650,000

$1.9M

Townhouse price

84M JPY

200M JPY

730M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$560,000

$1.3M

$4.9M

House price

98M JPY

590M JPY

840M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$650,000

$3.9M

$5.6M

Villa price

120M JPY

650M JPY

980M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$780,000

$4.3M

$6.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Tokyo can range from 9.8M JPY to 29M JPY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 12M JPY to 73M JPY. A villa can cost you 650M JPY on average with prices ranging from 120M JPY to 980M JPY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Tokyo can be x128 to x233 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x128 multiples of the average monthly salary in Tokyo.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Tokyo is around 35%. This means that people pay 35% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 46% 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 Tokyo

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

8,400 JPY

28,000 JPY

180,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$56

$190

$1,200

Internet and cable cost

2,600 JPY

5,300 JPY

7,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$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 28,000 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 Tokyo is around 5.6%. This means that people pay 5.6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.2% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tokyo

Prices and cost of goods and services in Tokyo

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 Tokyo 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

1,900 JPY

2,800 JPY

5,600 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$19

$37

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,900 JPY and 5,600 JPY with 2,800 JPY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Tokyo.

Fine dining meal for one price

3,700 JPY

5,600 JPY

22,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25

$37

$150

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 3,700 JPY to 22,000 JPY with the average cost being 5,600 JPY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Tokyo.

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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo 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

$1.8

$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

780 JPY

1,100 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4

$5.2

$7.3

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Tokyo 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 780 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

$3.7

A bag of rice in Tokyo 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

$0.94

$1.8

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

410 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$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 Tokyo is around 29%. This means that couples spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 36% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples