Help about living costs in Japan

you could get decent 2 rooms/living/kitchen (unfurnished) for below 100,000yen/month in Ehime.However,in the big cities like tokyo/yokohama or osaka,that would only buy you a one bedroom with kitchen.Furnished rental is not common here,only rich expats can afford it.

Hello everyone

@sttomas: I am publishing the average cost (in Japan) of the basic or day to day, necessities! Hope this might help you!

Restaurants Avg. Range Cost
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant     10.22 $   
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant 52.19 $   
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar 6.52 $   
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 3.88 $   
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 5.33 $   
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)    1.34 $    
Water (0.33 liter bottle)    1.23 $

Markets    Avg. Cost   
Milk (regular), 1 liter     2.20 $   
Loaf of Fresh Bread     1.84 $   
Eggs (12)    2.44 $   
Fresh Cheese (1kg)    22.33 $   
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg)     11.23 $   
Water (1.5 liter bottle)    1.44 $   
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)    13.22 $   
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro)    3.68 $   

Transportation Avg.Cost
One-way Ticket (local transport)     2.07 $   
Monthly Pass    106.83 $   
Taxi (5km within center)     23.55 $   
Gasoline (1 liter)    1.36 $   

Rent Per Month Avg.   
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre    983.42 $   
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre    893.15 $   
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre     2,216.44 $   
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 1,765.62 $   


Buy Apartment Price    
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre     8,365.44 $   
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre     4,864.80 $   

Utilities (Monthly).   
Basic (Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) 151.17 $   
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff (no discounts or plans)0.50$   
Internet (2 Mbps ADSL flat) 25.70 $   

Warm Regards
Source: Cost of Living, Numbeo -
Figure updated on December 2010

Some of those estimated costs posted seem a bit off - prices and costs vary so widely depending on where you are in Japan. For instance, you can get a lot of apartments outside of cities for far less than $800 (yes, even 2 bedrooms).

As for a furnished apartment, that may be more difficult to find, and typically employers would set up new employees with a furnished apartment (if they provide that service). If you are seeking out an English-teaching job, then this will be somewhat easier to find. I did a quick apartment check for Matsuyama, Ehime and the price per month ranged from 45,000 yen to 110,000 yen a month. (all 2 bedroom) and don't think many were furnished. However, it's also important to keep in mind that not all building owners will rent to foreigners. My husband and I will be going through this process soon, but I would suggest having a Japanese person help you find one and help take care of meeting and paperwork.

If you rent a cheaper apartment (still nice, though), let's say you pay around 55,000 yen a month or so. If you live frugally and don't travel extensively, you could easily live off of 250,000 - 300,000 yen. Food costs vary depending on location and how much "foreign" or "imported" food you buy, but on average, if you buy a lot of local food, you can keep your food costs to around 60,000 -70,000 yen (or less, depending on what you eat, how much your child eats as well, etc.) Utilities vary. We spend about 5000 yen a month on internet, 10000 on cell phones, and gas gets much higher in the winter, so I believe around 10000-12000 in winter and much less in summer. BUT we don't have an air conditioner, which drains a lot of money. Water is pretty cheap as is a basic phone, together around 3000 -4000 yen or so. Electricity also varies but ours is similar to gas.

If you have a car, then you'll be paying for gas and possibly optional insurance, so perhaps 9000-12,000 a month or so, depending.

Hope I didn't forget anything else.... but it does highly depend on your spending habits and lifestyle. My husband and I live a simple lifestyle and do ok, but people who travel and do a lot more may not have as much to save from their salary.