Cost Of Living For a Student in Kobe 2024

Average monthly spending for students in Kobe

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

Students in Kobe spend around 230,000 JPY per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 36,000 JPY or as high as 1.5M JPY. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Kobe?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Kobe typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 55,000 JPY with expenditure ranging from 8,500 JPY to 370,000 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 Kobe ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 9,200 JPY with 1,400 JPY and 61,000 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 2,500 JPY to 110,000 JPY in a month on commuting with 16,000 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 Kobe is 46,000 JPY. The cost of groceries can range between 7,100 JPY to 310,000 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 Kobe 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 2,100 JPY to 92,000 JPY with 14,000 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 1,800 JPY to 77,000 JPY with 12,000 JPY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% 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 44,000 JPY per month with 6,800 JPY being the minimum spent amount and 290,000 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 Kobe

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Kobe?

Around 70% of surveyed students think that living in Kobe is affordable with proper budgeting while 30% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Kobe

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 options58%

Few low-cost options42%

Based on the survey, 58% of the students living in Kobe have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% 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 Kobe whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes68%

No32%

Based on the survey, 32% of the students living in Kobe said that they don't have an emergency fund while 68% 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 Kobe 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 Kobe

Rent Cost in Kobe

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

41,000 JPY

62,000 JPY

170,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$410

$1,100

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

62,000 JPY

99,000 JPY

250,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$660

$1,600

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

83,000 JPY

120,000 JPY

330,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$550

$820

$2,200

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

99,000 JPY

170,000 JPY

450,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660

$1,100

$3,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

200,000 JPY

500,000 JPY

990,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,300

$6,600

Townhouse monthly rent cost

170,000 JPY

250,000 JPY

710,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$1,600

$4,700

House monthly rent cost

200,000 JPY

500,000 JPY

990,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,300

$6,600

Villa monthly rent cost

250,000 JPY

620,000 JPY

990,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,600

$4,100

$6,600

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Kobe ranges between 41,000 JPY and 170,000 JPY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 62,000 JPY to 250,000 JPY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 83,000 JPY and 330,000 JPY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 99,000 JPY to 450,000 JPY. The average rent of a townhouse in Kobe is around 250,000 JPY while house rental costs can be as high as 500,000 JPY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 250,000 JPY to 990,000 JPY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Kobe

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

8.3M JPY

12M JPY

25M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$55,000

$82,000

$160,000

1-bedroom apartment price

9.9M JPY

17M JPY

62M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$66,000

$110,000

$410,000

2-bedroom apartment price

17M JPY

50M JPY

99M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$330,000

$660,000

3-bedroom apartment price

55M JPY

83M JPY

250M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370,000

$550,000

$1.6M

Townhouse price

71M JPY

170M JPY

620M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470,000

$1.1M

$4.1M

House price

83M JPY

500M JPY

710M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$550,000

$3.3M

$4.7M

Villa price

99M JPY

550M JPY

830M JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660,000

$3.7M

$5.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Kobe can range from 8.3M JPY to 25M JPY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 9.9M JPY to 62M JPY. A villa can cost you 550M JPY on average with prices ranging from 99M JPY to 830M JPY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Kobe can be x109 to x198 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x109 multiples of the average monthly salary in Kobe.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Kobe is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 39% 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 Kobe

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

1,400 JPY

9,200 JPY

61,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.5

$61

$410

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 energy and water consumption of students is around 9,200 JPY. The cost of internet and WiFi 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 Kobe is around 4.7%. This means that people pay 4.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.9% to 8.5% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Kobe

Prices and cost of goods and services in Kobe

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 Kobe 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

1,700 JPY

2,500 JPY

5,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$17

$33

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,700 JPY and 5,000 JPY with 2,500 JPY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Kobe.

Fine dining meal for one price

3,300 JPY

5,000 JPY

20,000 JPY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$22

$33

$130

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 3,300 JPY to 20,000 JPY with the average cost being 5,000 JPY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Kobe.

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 Kobe 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 Kobe 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 Kobe 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 Kobe 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 Kobe is around 25%. This means that students spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 30% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students