Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan, is one of the most popular cities in the world to live in, and many foreigners want to live in Tokyo after they visit the city for a vacation.
Although the city is famous as a favorite destination for foreign tourists, and one of the top places for Japanese people to live in, the city is also known as one of the few cities with the highest cost of living in the world.
In this feature, we discuss the cost of living for a month in Tokyo; a reference in case you wish or plan to move to this amazing city.
Rent
The cost of renting a house in Tokyo is probably the biggest expense involved in living here.
The cost of renting a house in Japan changes according to the location of the house (city center or suburb), the distance from the house to the station, and the age of the building. The more strategic the location of the house, and the newer the building, the more expensive the cost of renting the house.
The following is a breakdown of the cost of renting a house in Tokyo:
- Rent per month for 85㎡ houses in strategic locations: 272,000 yen
- Rent per month for 85㎡ houses at other locations: 215,000 yen
- Rent per month for 45㎡ houses in strategic locations: 200,000 yen
- Rent per month for 45㎡ houses at ordinary locations: 90,000 yen
Meals
The cost of eating in the capital of a developed country like Tokyo is not cheap, and the price of lunch in Japan is quite expensive and you have to pay anywhere between 800-1000 yen.
A breakdown of the cost of meals in Tokyo (approximate):
- Lunch including a drink: 1,150 yen
- Large burger: 651 yen
- 500 gram boneless chicken breast: 555 yen
- One liter of fresh pure milk: 207 yen
- Twelve large eggs: 347 yen
- 500 gram local cheese: 865 yen
- One kilogram of apples: 793 yen
- One kilogram of potatoes: 433 yen
- One 500 ml beer can: 280 yen
- One bottle of good quality wine: 1,762 yen
Utilities
Next we will discuss about electricity, water, gas and internet costs.
The following are details of these costs:
- The cost of electricity, water and gas bills per month for houses measuring 85㎡: 24,000 yen
- The cost of electricity, water and gas bills per month for a house is 45㎡: 14,000 yen
- Internet fees per month at 8 Mbps: 5,000 yen
Healthcare
Health and medical expenses in Japan are known to be quite expensive. The proof is that the government requires every citizen to take part in a national insurance program.
The following is a breakdown of health and medical expenses in Japan without insurance:
- Drugs for fever/cold for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol or similar): 1,300 yen
- One box antibiotic drugs (12 doses): 1,491 yen
- Short visit to the doctor (15 minutes): 3,672 yen
Transportation
The following is a breakdown of transportation costs in Tokyo:
- Price of a Volkswagon Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent): 3,244,400 yen
- Price of 1 liter of petrol: 151 yen
- Commuter ticket price for a monthly pass: 11,978 yen
- Rates for taxi rides on weekdays, a distance of 8 km: 3,555 yen
If you're planning a move to this buzzing city, make sure to take into account a lot of these costs beforehand.
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