Is living in tokyo affordable?

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is known around the world as a multicultural city with state-of-the-art technology and an abundance of captivating sightseeing spots. But it is also said to be a city with a high cost of living. In this article, we examine if Tokyo is an affordable place to live in based on its cost of living and average rent.

Cost of Living and Average Rent in Tokyo

As the economic center of Japan, Tokyo has a relatively high cost of living compared to the rest of the country. This is especially true in the 23 Special Wards and other popular areas, with monthly rents, food, transportation, and entertainment costs all on the high side. As you move farther away from central Tokyo, commodity prices generally tend to decrease. Let’s take a look at the general cost of living in Tokyo below.

・Housing costs (rent): 80,000 to 150,000 yen per month for a studio-type or 1K apartment in central Tokyo (varies depending on the room size and location).

・Food costs: 20,000 to 50,000 yen per month (or higher if you eat out a lot).

・Utility costs: 10,000 to 20,000 yen per month (varies depending on the season, with an upward trend in recent years).

・Transportation costs: 10,000 to 20,000 yen per month (varies depending on how often you use public transportation).

・Entertainment costs: Includes expenses for movies, concerts, events, etc. Varies depending on your specific tastes and frequency of use.

In general, living in Tokyo will cost you around 120,000 to 250,000 yen every month. Note that these values are just for reference, and may vary greatly depending on the individual’s lifestyle and preferences.

Average Rent in Tokyo Compared to Other World Cities

When compared to other major cities around the world, the cost of living in Tokyo may seem to be fairly affordable. This is especially true when we look at the average monthly rents.

• New York (USA)

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment for singles in central Manhattan generally costs around 2,000 to over 4,000 USD per month.

• London (UK)

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment for singles in central London generally costs around 1,000 to 2,000 pounds per month.

• Paris (France)

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment for singles in central Paris generally costs around 800 to 1,500 euro per month.

• Hong Kong (China)

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment generally costs around 20,000 to over 40,000 HKD (approx. 2,580 to 5,160 USD) per month.

• Shanghai (China)

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment generally costs around 4,000 to 8,000 CNY (approx. 620 to 1,240 USD) per month.

• Singapore

A studio-type or 1-bedroom apartment generally costs around 2,000 to 3,000 SGD (approx. 1,480 to 2,220 USD) per month.

While monthly rents in Tokyo may seem to be relatively modest when compared with other major cities, it is still a fairly high amount overall. One advantage Tokyo has is its well-developed transportation network, which allows you to live in the suburbs or remote areas where rents are cheaper, while still maintaining ease of access.

In Tokyo, there are various kinds of housing available, so you can choose the type that fits your budget and lifestyle, allowing you to live a comfortable life.

Cost of Living in Tokyo Compared to Other World Cities

If we look at the cost of living, some major cities tend to be more expensive than Tokyo. Let’s take at the general cost of living (excluding rent) in the same cities listed above.

• New York (USA)

New York is known for its high cost of living, especially in places like central Manhattan.

・Food costs: Around 800 to 1,500 USD per month (dining out is also quite expensive).

・Utility costs: Around 200 to 300 USD per month (use of heaters and coolers are generally necessary).

・Transportation costs: Around 120 to 200 USD per month.

• London (UK)

London is also a fairly expensive city especially in the central areas.

・Food costs: Around 700 to 1,300 pounds (approx. 960 to 1,780 USD) per month.

・Utility costs: Around 150 to 250 pounds (approx. 200 to 340 USD) per month.

・Transportation costs: Around 120 pounds (approx. 160 USD) per month.

• Paris (France)

Paris is known as a city of fine dining and high culture, but commodity prices are fairly high.

・Food costs: Around 800 to 1,500 euro (approx. 940 to 1,770 USD) per month (dining out is also quite expensive).

・Utility costs: Around 150 to 250 euro (approx. 180 to 290 USD) per month.

・Transportation costs: Around 75 euro (approx. 90 USD) per month.

• Shanghai (China)

The cost of living in Shanghai is relatively cheaper compared to Tokyo and other cities.

・Food costs: Around 2,000 to 4,000 CNY (approx. 310 to 620 USD) per month (dining out is part of the local culture).

・Utility costs: Around 500 to 1,000 CNY (approx. 80 to 160 USD) per month.

・Transportation costs: Around 200 to 400 CNY (approx. 30 to 60 USD) per month.

• Singapore

The general cost of living in Singapore is quite similar to that of Tokyo.

・Food costs: Around 2,000 to 3,000 SGD (approx. 1,480 to 2,220 USD) per month (dining out or food delivery is quite expensive).

・Utility costs: Around 150 to 250 SGD (approx. 110 to 185 USD) per month (relatively cheaper because the use of heaters is not necessary).

・Transportation costs: Around 100 SGD (approx. 74 USD) per month.

• Hong Kong (China)

While monthly rents are quite high in Hong Kong, other living costs are more reasonable.

・Food costs: Around 6,000 to 12,000 HKD (approx. 770 to 1,540 USD) per month (dining out or food delivery is quite expensive).

・Utility costs: Around 800 to 1,500 HKD (approx. 100 to 190 USD) per month.

・Transportation costs: Around 500 HKD (approx. 65 USD) per month.

Tokyo is relatively affordable compared to other cities but still has a high cost of living

As you can see from the values listed above, Tokyo is a relatively affordable city to live in compared to other major cities in the world. Its rich culture and diverse lifestyles also add to its charm. Still, certain parts of central Tokyo and other popular residential areas can be very expensive, so it is important to choose a place and live a lifestyle that fits your financial capacity.

Summary

Tokyo is an attractive global city filled with diverse culture and state-of-the-art technology. Though its monthly rents and general cost of living tend to be cheaper compared to other major cities, it is still a fairly expensive city to live in. So if you want to live in Tokyo, you should choose an area that is suitable to your budget and lifestyle. It is also important to constantly reevaluate your living expenses.