MigrantoCost of living in Japan
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in Japan
Spending runs from ¥87,000 a month in the poorest fifth to ¥504,000 in the richest
Per person, whole country
¥215,000
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
¥87,000richest 20%
¥504,000
Where people spend money in Japan
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in Japan in numbers
The cheapest of its neighbours
No neighbouring country is cheaper. The same basket costs ¥222,000 here against ¥231,000 in South Korea, the closest on price.
Housing takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 23.8% of spending here, or ¥51,100 a month, against 18.4% in a typical country, 5.4 points more.
Typical spending takes 72% of the average wage
A typical person spends ¥215,000 a month while the average take-home wage is ¥298,000, so 28% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in Japan compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in Japan against other countries
More expensive than 72% of countries
Where Japan sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs ¥160,000 at world-middle prices costs ¥222,000 here.
Data source: household consumption 2022 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What it costs to live in Japan
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Japan and how much you could have left each month
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- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Japan
¥87,000/mo
vs ¥128,000 in your country
Take-home
¥145,000
vs ¥192,000 in your country
Potential savings
¥57,700
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Japan?
A typical person in Japan spends about ¥215,000 a month — around ¥2,580,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in Japan?
By spending, Japan ranks #38 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about ¥215,000 a month, the poorest 20% about ¥87,000 and the richest 20% about ¥504,000. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
What is the cost of living in Japan in US dollars?
The cost of living in Japan is about $1,342 a month, or roughly $16,104 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Japan?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about ¥87,000 a month per person, a typical one around ¥215,000, and a comfortable life around ¥297,000. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Japan?
The biggest expense is housing, at about ¥51,100 a month (24% of spending). Then come groceries (¥34,600, 16%) and transport (¥20,000, 9%).
Is the average salary in Japan enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about ¥215,000 a month, while the average take-home pay in Japan is about ¥298,000. For more on incomes, see salaries in Japan.
Is Japan an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Japan is more expensive than 80% of countries worldwide and ranks 4th of 27 in Asia by cost of living.
What currency is used in Japan?
Japan uses the Japanese Yen (JPY). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
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Living in Japan
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