Japan Life: Cost of living in Tokyo -Part 1

The estimates below are meant to give you an idea of the main monthly expenses you should budget for as a young working person in Tokyo. The expenses for a couple or family with children, or if you are on an ex-pat package or are receiving assistance from your company, will of course vary significantly.

Based on the scenarios below, the cost of living for a single working person in Tokyo is between ¥140,000 (1,268USD) and ¥194,000 (1,757USD) a month, including rent, food, discretionary spending, transportation, and taxes and insurance. However, this is only meant as a general guideline, and your expenses may be quite different.

According to government estimates, the cost of living in Tokyo is about 10% higher than for the rest of the country. If you are moving to a small town, your rent and food expenses will likely be much lower.

The data below is compiled from Tokyo metropolitan government data, interviews with local residents, and surveys of advertised food and alcohol prices at discount Japanese supermarkets, discount restaurant chains, and foreign import food stores as of June 2017. The current JPY to USD exchange rate is about ¥110 yen to the US dollar.

Typical Monthly Cost of Living for a Single Person in Tokyo
Item	Budget Amount	Average Amount JPY	Notes
Rent	45,000	70,000	“Budget” amount is estimate for a 15-sqm studio apartment located outiside central Tokyo and about a 30- to 45-min train ride to a major Tokyo station. “Average” amount is estimate for a 20-sqm studio apartment in the 23 Wards but not near a major station like Shinjuku or Shibuya.For detailed data please see: What is the average rent in Tokyo by Ward?
Food	20,000	30,000	“Budget” amount is for someone who rarely eats out and cooks almost all their own meals, including a packed lunch (bento). “Average” amount is for someone who occassionally eats out.If you eat “conbini” (convenience store) food and at budget restaurants a lot, expect your monthly food expenses to be at least ¥40,000.
Utilities	8,000	10,000	Gas, water, and electricity. Of the three, water bill can vary the most. For example, one way to lower your water bill is to take a bath instead of a shower.
Internet/Mobile Phone	8,000	10,000	Fixed provider fee is between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 per month.
Socializing/Going out	5,000	10,000	Average for men: ¥15,000, for women: ¥5,000
Clothing/Personal Care	5,000	10,000	Average for women: ¥20,000, for men: ¥5,000
Books, music, movies	5,000	10,000	Including digital music/movie purchases.
Transportation	4,000	4,000	Average cost of a commuter pass. Many employers will reimburse you for your commuter pass, so you may not have this as a work or school expense, but you should still budget for personal travel.
Income Tax / Health Insurance / Pension	40,000	40,000	Estimate for someone earning a gross salary of ¥250,000 a month. For details please see: “How much can a single working person in Tokyo save a month?“
Total	140,000	194,000

Cost of Food

Next, let’s take a more detailed look at the food category, since this is where you can really save money. As anywhere, you can save a lot by buying in-season fruits and vegetables and cooking with local ingredients.

As of June 1st, a revision to the Liquor Tax Law will also require mass retailers to raise the price of beer and happoshu (low-malt beer-like beverages) by about 10%. The price of butter is also expected to rise due to a rise in the price of raw materials.

The prices of groceries cited below are advertised prices by Seiyu, a major Japanese supermarket chain.

Examples of Food and Alcohol Prices in Tokyo (June 2017)
Item	JPY Price	USD Price	Notes
Liter of milk	200	1.82
Carton of yogurt	138	1.26	450 g package of plain yogurt.
Carton of ten eggs	197	1.80	Eggs are usually sold in cartons of six or ten.
Loaf of bread	138	1.26	Six slices of packaged supermarket bread.
One box of breakfast cereal	448	4.08	About 395g box of imported breakfast cereal.
350g jar of Nutella	717	6.52	Available at import food stores like Seijo Ishii and online at Amazon.co.jp
340g jar of Skippy peanut butter	648	5.90	Available at import food stores like Seijo Ishii and online at Amazon.co.jp
Liter of orange juice	228	2.08	Tropicana brand
Bunch of bananas	100	0.91
One orange	90	0.82
One Fuji apple	140	1.28
One packet of two lemons	150	1.37
One avocado	150	1.37
Head of cabbage	137	1.25
Packet of three onions	100	0.91
Packet of potatoes	200	1.82	About 4 or 5 small potatoes.
Packet of three carrots	157	1.43
One tomato	80	0.73
One packet of cherry tomatoes	150	1.37
One bunch of spinach	117	1.07
One head of lettuce	127	1.16
Packet of three cucumbers	110	1.00
One packet of tofu	119	1.09
5-L sack of rice	1,680	15.28	Akita komachi rice
500g of spaghetti noodles	178	1.62
One 330g steak	617	5.61	Imported American Angus beef (shoulder)
Three pieces of pork chop (330g)	320	2.91	Packet of 3 pork chops.
Pack of two chicken thighs	494	4.50	500g pack
Pack of two chicken breasts	334	3.04	500g pack
Six pack of Japanese beer	1,125	10.23	Six pack of Asahi Dry beer.
Bottle of Guiness Extra Stout	248	2.26	330ml bottle
Bottle of Heineken beer	208	1.90	330ml bottle
Bottle of imported wine	1,505	13.69	750ml bottle of budget French wine
Conbini bento (lunch box)	398	3.62	7-Eleven “Maki no Uchi” bento (rice with fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables and an umeboshi.)
Conbini onigiri (rice ball)	110	1.00
Supermarket store brand cup ramen	80	0.73
Yoshinoya beef bowl	380	3.46	Gyuudon （牛丼）
McDonalds Big Mac	380	3.46
Delivered pizza	1,600	14.55	Dominos Medium “American Special” Pepperoni Pizza