Cost Of Living in Kyoto 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Kyoto

Whether you're living in Kyoto or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Kyoto is 330,000 JPY. Expenses can range from 47,000 JPY at the minimum level to 2.2M JPY at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Kyoto is 550,000 JPY. Expenditure can range from 180,000 JPY to 2.9M JPY per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Kyoto is 730,000 JPY per month. Families spend anywhere from 260,000 JPY to 4.8M JPY.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Kyoto is 240,000 JPY. Students spend from 37,000 JPY to 1.6M JPY per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Kyoto

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.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Kyoto is 82% This means that on average, people spend around 82% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 18% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
74%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

66%

82%

Couple
78%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

70%

86%

Family
86%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

77%

95%

How do people spend their money in Kyoto?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Kyoto typically spend from 15% to 34% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average spend on housing is 140,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 11,000 JPY to 1.4M JPY. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Kyoto ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 24,000 JPY with 1,800 JPY and 240,000 JPY being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 3,700 JPY to 480,000 JPY on commuting with 48,000 JPY being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Kyoto is 120,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 9,200 JPY to 1.2M JPY. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in Kyoto allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 2,600 JPY to 330,000 JPY with 33,000 JPY being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,500 JPY to 190,000 JPY with 19,000 JPY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 29,000 JPY per month with 2,200 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 290,000 JPY being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Kyoto every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Kyoto manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 64% of the surveyed people in Kyoto said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 36% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Kyoto

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 8.8% to 28% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 17% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 190,000 JPY on average with savings ranging from 15,000 JPY to 1.9M JPY.

69% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 64% of couples said the same. 59% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Kyoto?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 12% to 30% of their monthly income to savings, with 21% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 130,000 JPY with 15,000 JPY and 870,000 JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 9.8% to 29% of their monthly income, with 19% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 220,000 JPY with 73,000 JPY and 1.2M JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Kyoto can save anywhere between 8.8% to 27% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 290,000 JPY with 100,000 JPY and 1.9M JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Kyoto

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

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

Around 6% of the people 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. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% 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% 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. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% 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 people in Kyoto

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 Kyoto

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Kyoto?

Around 72% of surveyed residents think that living in Kyoto is affordable with proper budgeting while 28% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Kyoto

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 residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 60% of the people living in Kyoto have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

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 residents of Kyoto whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes70%

No30%

Based on the survey, 30% of the people living in Kyoto said that they don't have an emergency fund while 70% 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 residents of 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 residents 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 people in Kyoto

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Kyoto, 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 those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 35% 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 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Kyoto

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Kyoto and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Japan is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Kyoto about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Kyoto

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Kyoto

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 26% of the people in Kyoto have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 74% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Kyoto

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 28% of the people's monthly income in Kyoto goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Kyoto pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% 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 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Kyoto

12% of debtors in Kyoto confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Kyoto.

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 Kyoto

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Kyoto 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 Kyoto

Rent Cost in Kyoto

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

43,000 JPY

64,000 JPY

170,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$280

$430

$1,100

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

64,000 JPY

100,000 JPY

260,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430

$680

$1,700

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

85,000 JPY

130,000 JPY

340,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$570

$850

$2,300

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

100,000 JPY

170,000 JPY

470,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$680

$1,100

$3,100

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

200,000 JPY

510,000 JPY

1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,400

$6,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

170,000 JPY

260,000 JPY

730,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$1,700

$4,900

House monthly rent cost

200,000 JPY

510,000 JPY

1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,400

$6,800

Villa monthly rent cost

260,000 JPY

640,000 JPY

1M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$4,300

$6,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Kyoto ranges between 43,000 JPY and 170,000 JPY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 64,000 JPY to 260,000 JPY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 85,000 JPY and 340,000 JPY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 100,000 JPY to 470,000 JPY. The average rent of a townhouse in Kyoto is around 260,000 JPY while house rental costs can be as high as 510,000 JPY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 260,000 JPY to 1M JPY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Kyoto

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

8.5M JPY

13M JPY

26M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$57,000

$85,000

$170,000

1-bedroom apartment price

10M JPY

17M JPY

64M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$68,000

$110,000

$430,000

2-bedroom apartment price

17M JPY

51M JPY

100M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$340,000

$680,000

3-bedroom apartment price

57M JPY

85M JPY

260M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380,000

$570,000

$1.7M

Townhouse price

73M JPY

170M JPY

640M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$490,000

$1.1M

$4.3M

House price

85M JPY

510M JPY

730M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$570,000

$3.4M

$4.9M

Villa price

100M JPY

570M JPY

850M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$680,000

$3.8M

$5.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Kyoto can range from 8.5M JPY to 26M JPY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 10M JPY to 64M JPY. A villa can cost you 570M JPY on average with prices ranging from 100M JPY to 850M JPY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Kyoto can be x112 to x204 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x112 multiples of the average monthly salary in Kyoto.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Kyoto is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 40% 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 Kyoto

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

2,800 JPY

20,000 JPY

130,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19

$130

$880

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

7,300 JPY

25,000 JPY

160,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$49

$160

$1,100

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

13,000 JPY

37,000 JPY

240,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$85

$240

$1,600

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 expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Kyoto ranges between 2,800 JPY and 130,000 JPY with average being 20,000 JPY, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 25,000 JPY with 7,300 JPY and 160,000 JPY being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 37,000 JPY. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and 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 Kyoto is around 4.9%. This means that people pay 4.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 8.8% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Kyoto

Prices and cost of goods and services in Kyoto

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 Kyoto 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

1,700 JPY

2,600 JPY

5,200 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 1,700 JPY and 5,200 JPY with 2,600 JPY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Kyoto.

Fine dining meal for one price

3,500 JPY

5,200 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 5,200 JPY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Kyoto.

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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto is around 25%. This means that people spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 31% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 53,000 JPY per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 7,500 JPY and 350,000 JPY depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 77,000 JPY per month. That number can be get as low as 26,000 JPY or a high as 410,000 JPY. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 46,000 JPY to 860,000 JPY with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Kyoto

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Kyoto

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Kyoto

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Kyoto