Cost Of Living For a Student in Japan 2024

Average monthly spending for students in Japan

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

Students in Japan spend around 240,000 JPY per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 38,000 JPY or as high as 1.6M JPY. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Japan?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Japan typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 59,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 9,000 JPY to 390,000 JPY. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

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

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Japan ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 9,800 JPY with 1,500 JPY and 65,000 JPY being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 2,600 JPY to 110,000 JPY in a month on commuting with 17,000 JPY being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Japan is 49,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 7,500 JPY to 330,000 JPY. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Japan allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 2,300 JPY to 98,000 JPY with 15,000 JPY being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,900 JPY to 81,000 JPY with 12,000 JPY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 46,000 JPY per month with 7,100 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 310,000 JPY being the maximum.

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 students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Japan?

Around 74% of surveyed students 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 students 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 students 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 Students

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 students of Japan whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes72%

No28%

Based on the survey, 28% of the students 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 student 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 students 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%

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 / Student

1,500 JPY

9,800 JPY

65,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$65

$430

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 students is around 9,800 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 students 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 students