Cost Of Living in Sendai 2024

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

Whether you're living in Sendai 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 Sendai is 290,000 JPY. Expenses can range from 41,000 JPY at the minimum level to 1.9M JPY at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Sendai is 480,000 JPY. Expenditure can range from 160,000 JPY to 2.5M JPY per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Sendai is 640,000 JPY per month. Families spend anywhere from 220,000 JPY to 4.1M JPY.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Sendai is 210,000 JPY. Students spend from 32,000 JPY to 1.4M JPY per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Sendai

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 Sendai is 71% This means that on average, people spend around 71% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
64%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

57%

71%

Couple
67%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

60%

75%

Family
75%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

67%

83%

How do people spend their money in Sendai?

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

People living in Sendai typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 120,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 9,500 JPY to 1.2M 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 Sendai ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 21,000 JPY with 1,600 JPY and 210,000 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 3,200 JPY to 410,000 JPY on commuting with 41,000 JPY being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Sendai is 100,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 7,900 JPY to 1M JPY. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Sendai allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 2,200 JPY to 290,000 JPY with 29,000 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 1,300 JPY to 170,000 JPY with 17,000 JPY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% 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 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 25,000 JPY per month with 1,900 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 250,000 JPY being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Sendai 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 Sendai manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 56% of the surveyed people in Sendai said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 44% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Sendai

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 7.6% to 25% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 14% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 160,000 JPY on average with savings ranging from 13,000 JPY to 1.6M JPY.

60% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 56% of couples said the same. 52% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Sendai?

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 10% to 26% of their monthly income to savings, with 18% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 110,000 JPY with 13,000 JPY and 750,000 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 8.5% to 25% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 190,000 JPY with 63,000 JPY and 1M 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 Sendai can save anywhere between 7.6% to 24% of their monthly income, with 14% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 250,000 JPY with 88,000 JPY and 1.6M JPY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Sendai

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

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

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% 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. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% 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. 19% 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. 12% 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, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Sendai

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 Sendai

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Sendai?

Around 63% of surveyed residents think that living in Sendai is affordable with proper budgeting while 38% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Sendai

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 options52%

Few low-cost options49%

Based on the survey, 52% of the people living in Sendai have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 49% 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 Sendai whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes61%

No39%

Based on the survey, 39% of the people living in Sendai said that they don't have an emergency fund while 61% 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 Sendai

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Sendai, 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 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 38% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Sendai

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Sendai 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 Sendai about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Sendai

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Sendai

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 23% of the people in Sendai have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 77% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Sendai

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 25% of the people's monthly income in Sendai goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Sendai pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Sendai

10% of debtors in Sendai confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 18% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Sendai.

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 Sendai

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

Rent Cost in Sendai

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

37,000 JPY

55,000 JPY

150,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$370

$980

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

55,000 JPY

89,000 JPY

220,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370

$590

$1,500

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

74,000 JPY

110,000 JPY

300,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$490

$740

$2,000

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

89,000 JPY

150,000 JPY

400,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$590

$980

$2,700

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

180,000 JPY

440,000 JPY

890,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$2,900

$5,900

Townhouse monthly rent cost

150,000 JPY

220,000 JPY

630,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$980

$1,500

$4,200

House monthly rent cost

180,000 JPY

440,000 JPY

890,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$2,900

$5,900

Villa monthly rent cost

220,000 JPY

550,000 JPY

890,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,700

$5,900

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Sendai ranges between 37,000 JPY and 150,000 JPY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 55,000 JPY to 220,000 JPY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 74,000 JPY and 300,000 JPY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 89,000 JPY to 400,000 JPY. The average rent of a townhouse in Sendai is around 220,000 JPY while house rental costs can be as high as 440,000 JPY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 220,000 JPY to 890,000 JPY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Sendai

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

7.4M JPY

11M JPY

22M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$49,000

$74,000

$150,000

1-bedroom apartment price

8.9M JPY

15M JPY

55M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$59,000

$98,000

$370,000

2-bedroom apartment price

15M JPY

44M JPY

89M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$98,000

$290,000

$590,000

3-bedroom apartment price

49M JPY

74M JPY

220M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330,000

$490,000

$1.5M

Townhouse price

63M JPY

150M JPY

550M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$980,000

$3.7M

House price

74M JPY

440M JPY

630M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$490,000

$2.9M

$4.2M

Villa price

89M JPY

490M JPY

740M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$590,000

$3.3M

$4.9M

The average price of a studio apartment in Sendai can range from 7.4M JPY to 22M JPY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 8.9M JPY to 55M JPY. A villa can cost you 490M JPY on average with prices ranging from 89M JPY to 740M JPY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Sendai can be x97 to x177 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x97 multiples of the average monthly salary in Sendai.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Sendai is around 26%. This means that people pay 26% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 35% 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 Sendai

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

2,400 JPY

17,000 JPY

110,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16

$110

$760

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

6,400 JPY

21,000 JPY

140,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42

$140

$930

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

11,000 JPY

32,000 JPY

210,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$74

$210

$1,400

Internet and cable cost

2,500 JPY

5,000 JPY

6,700 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$33

$44

Mobile phone bill and charges

2,000 JPY

3,300 JPY

10,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$22

$67

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Sendai ranges between 2,400 JPY and 110,000 JPY with average being 17,000 JPY, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 21,000 JPY with 6,400 JPY and 140,000 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 32,000 JPY. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 2,500 JPY to 6,700 JPY with 5,000 JPY being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 3,300 JPY but can range between 2,000 JPY and 10,000 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 Sendai is around 4.2%. This means that people pay 4.2% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.7% to 7.6% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Sendai

Prices and cost of goods and services in Sendai

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

Fast food combo meal price

500 JPY

1,000 JPY

1,700 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$6.7

$11

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Sendai is approximatly 1,000 JPY with meal cost ranging from 500 JPY to 1,700 JPY. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,600 JPY

2,400 JPY

4,700 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$16

$31

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,600 JPY and 4,700 JPY with 2,400 JPY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Sendai.

Fine dining meal for one price

3,200 JPY

4,700 JPY

19,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21

$31

$130

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 3,200 JPY to 19,000 JPY with the average cost being 4,700 JPY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Sendai.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

420 JPY

670 JPY

1,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.4

$6.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Sendai is around 670 JPY. Price ranges between 420 JPY and 1,000 JPY depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

330 JPY

400 JPY

500 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$2.7

$3.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Sendai is 400 JPY. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 500 JPY and the minimum being 330 JPY depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

250 JPY

330 JPY

500 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.2

$3.3

A dozen eggs costs around 330 JPY on average with 250 JPY and 500 JPY being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

570 JPY

740 JPY

1,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$4.9

$6.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Sendai is between 570 JPY and 1,000 JPY depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 740 JPY.

Pack of beef price

670 JPY

1,000 JPY

2,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.7

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 1,000 JPY. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

270 JPY

370 JPY

520 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.5

$3.5

A bag of rice in Sendai costs around 370 JPY on average with prices rangeing between 270 JPY and 520 JPY depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

100 JPY

130 JPY

250 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.67

$0.89

$1.7

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 100 JPY to 250 JPY. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

180 JPY

230 JPY

390 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.6

A bag of apples costs 230 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 Sendai is around 22%. This means that people spend 22% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 15% to 27% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 46,000 JPY per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 6,500 JPY and 310,000 JPY depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 67,000 JPY per month. That number can be get as low as 22,000 JPY or a high as 360,000 JPY. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 40,000 JPY to 740,000 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 Sendai

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

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

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