What Is the Cost of Living in Tokyo?

Tokyo is one of the leading industrial centres in the world. A number of companies have their corporate headquarters located in Tokyo. Furthermore, the city is well-known for its job opportunities, tradition and culture that welcome students and expats from all over the world for education and jobs.

In this article, we are going to see the cost of living in Tokyo for a month.

What Is the Average Cost of Living in Tokyo?

The average cost of living in Tokyo is quite expensive compared to other top cities globally. The table below shows the approximate monthly cost of living in Tokyo for a family of four, bachelor and students –

Area of Expense	Bachelors	Students	Family of Four (2 Adults + 2 Kids)
Housing	¥ 70,000	¥ 44,000	¥ 1,25,000
Groceries	¥ 30,000	¥ 30,000	¥ 80,000
Transportation	¥ 4,000	¥ 5,000	¥ 46,000
Utilities	¥ 20,000	¥ 7,000	¥ 20,000
Entertainment	¥ 20,000	¥ 6,000	¥ 33,000
Schooling and childcare	NA	NA	¥ 26,000
Total	¥ 1,44,000	¥ 92,000	¥ 3,30,000

What Are the Top Expenses While Living in Tokyo?

There are several areas of expense that impact the monthly cost of living in Tokyo. These include –

1. Housing

Most expats prefer living in serviced or furnished accommodations that are larger and much more expensive than other living spaces in the city. The average rent of these houses varies depending on the housing type, size, age of the property and the amenities available. In general, the monthly rent of a house is highest in the city centre and comparatively lower in the surrounding suburbs and outskirts of Tokyo.

Classification of Accommodation	Approximate Rent Per Month
900 sq. ft. furnished accommodation (in city centre)	¥ 4,00,000
900 sq. ft. furnished accommodation (outside city centre)	¥ 2,00,000
480 sq. ft. furnished studio accommodation (in city centre)	¥ 2,00,000
480 sq. ft. furnished studio accommodation (outside city centre)	¥ 1,50,000
Private bedroom in a guest house	¥ 40,000
Shared room in a dormitory	¥ 36,000

The table below shows the approximate price of buying a property in Tokyo –

Location of the Property	Cost Per Square Metre
Tokyo’s 23 wards	¥ 11,80,000
Western suburbs	¥ 7,85,000
Chiba prefecture	¥ 5,95,000
Kanagawa prefecture	¥ 7,60,000
Saitama prefecture	¥ 6,80,000

2. Groceries

Grocery is the only area of expense where an individual can easily save money. Just like any other place in the world, one can save a lot by purchasing seasonal vegetables and fruits and cooking with local ingredients. The table below shows the approximate cost of some basic grocery items in Tokyo –

Grocery Items	Approximate Cost
Milk (regular) (1 litre)	¥ 200
Fresh Bread (500g)	¥ 250
Rice (white) (1kg)	¥ 480
Eggs (regular) (1 dozen)	¥ 250
Local Cheese (1kg)	¥ 1,850
Chicken 1 kg (boneless)	¥ 1,000
Apples (1kg)	¥ 900
Banana (1kg)	¥ 400
Oranges (1kg)	¥ 800
Tomato (1kg)	¥ 670
Potato (1kg)	¥ 450
Onion (1kg)	¥ 350
Lettuce (1 head)	¥ 200

3. Transportation

Tokyo is known for having one of the most efficient transportation systems in the whole world. The convenience, speed and timeliness of the transportation system are praised far and wide. The city is interconnected by trains, buses and subways. Furthermore, students in Tokyo enjoy the benefits of a monthly pass using which they can have unlimited stops between their campus and home.

Fuel Cost/Transportation Service	Approximate Cost
One-way ticket (public transport)	¥ 200
Monthly pass (public transport)	¥ 10,250
Price of diesel (as of 13th June)	¥ 144.44 per litre
Price of gasoline (as of 13th June)	¥ 165.25 per litre
Taxi (1 km)	¥ 420
Rental bikes and scooters	¥ 100 - ¥ 300 per hour
Cabs (minimum fare)	¥ 730

(1)(2)

4. Basic Utilities

The money spent on the basic utilities like electricity, gas connection, water supply, internet and mobile prepaid package adds up a significant amount to the monthly expenses in Tokyo.

Monthly Utilities	Approximate Cost
Basic (heating, cooling, electricity, water) for a house	¥ 23,000
Prepaid mobile bill	¥ 48
Internet for cable, ADSL, unlimited data	¥ 4,500

5. Entertainment

Tokyo has a number of movie theatres, nightlife hotspots and game centres to relax and enjoy. However, these areas demand a lot of money. Therefore, be careful that you manage your expenses wisely.

Area of Expense	Approximate Cost
1 month gym membership	¥ 9,700
1 morning cappuccino	¥ 435
Tennis court rent for 1 hour	¥ 3,800
Cinema (1 seat)	¥ 1,900
Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person)	¥ 1,000
Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant	¥ 6,000
McMeal at McDonald's	¥ 700

6. Childcare and Schooling

While evaluating the cost of living in Tokyo, a person should consider the monthly tuition fees of their kids. Tokyo has a number of reputed schools and colleges that impart high-end education and training to children.

School and Childcare	Approximate Cost
Preschool or kindergarten, full-day, private, monthly for 1 Child	¥ 70,000
International primary school, yearly for 1 child	¥ 21,00,000

The table below illustrates the best international schools in Tokyo –

School	Curriculum
New International School of Japan	International, Japanese
United School of Tokyo	American, International
Tokyo YMCA International School	American, International
Axis International School	American
Horizon Japan International School	International Baccalaureate, American
Shinagawa International School	International Baccalaureate
Clarence International School	British
Laurus International School of Science	British
Kohana International School	British
The French-Japanese International School of Tokyo	French

How Expensive Is Tokyo Compared to Other Top Cities?

According to ‘Mercer Cost of Living Survey’ 2021, Tokyo is the fourth most expensive city for expats in the world to live in. The cost of groceries is 41.51% higher in Tokyo than in London. However, Tokyo is comparatively cheaper than leading cities like New York and California.

Therefore, Tokyo is one of the costliest cities in the world. However, an individual's lifestyle and standard of living play the most crucial role in deciding the cost of living in Tokyo. Managing your expenses wisely can help you save more money at the end of the month or year.

Frequently Asked Questions

All

Is residing in Tokyo costly?

The standard of living in Tokyo is relatively high. Furthermore, the city ranks fourth in the list of the most expensive cities in the world.

What annual salary does a person need to live in Tokyo?

To lead a comfortable life in Tokyo, an individual must earn ¥ 4 million annually.