Cost of living in Tokyo
- Thread starter Yoko_Kisaragi
- Start date
- 20 Aug 2003
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"Comfortably" is a relative word. Depends on your lifestyle requirements.
That figure is an ANNUAL salary??? No way is that enough to live on. SOme people live on 400,000 per MONTH (or less). A salary of 800K per year is only 67,000 yen/month about 1/3 subsistence wages.
That figure is an ANNUAL salary??? No way is that enough to live on. SOme people live on 400,000 per MONTH (or less). A salary of 800K per year is only 67,000 yen/month about 1/3 subsistence wages.
GaijinPunch
遠いから行きません
- 25 Nov 2004
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8 million yen is pretty easy to live off of. I lived relatively central (alone) on quite a bit less than that for a while. However, I would rather get that in 12 installments than the Japanese excuse for a bonus where your company holds on to 6 months worth of pay and gives it to you twice a year. In this case, that would be 1.3 million yen per bonus. As a non-Japanese, it's very easy for me to put that in an interest-yielding account where *I* get interest, not my company. That's for another thread though.
- 20 Aug 2003
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- 416
8 million is enough to live on, even in Tokyo. How comfortable do you plan to live? I know some people who live with toilet paper they brought from home, and yet others who consider a case of imported wine to be a necessity. Big difference. Some people like hiking, while others can't do without clubbing every other night of the week.
JerseyBoy
Back in town
- 31 Dec 2005
- 537
- 9
So, it seems I can estimate the approximate cost of living in Tokyo by looking at what I have been going through all those years in NYC metro areas (not in Manhattan, but, in Queens, Nassau and Bergen).
I am not into clubbing nor eating out. So, I am not going to be spending on those things. I think I would rather save and investment for my retirement fund. Maybe a few overseas trip once or twice a year (if I don't have opportunities to do so for work).
I am not into clubbing nor eating out. So, I am not going to be spending on those things. I think I would rather save and investment for my retirement fund. Maybe a few overseas trip once or twice a year (if I don't have opportunities to do so for work).
GaijinPunch
遠いから行きません
- 25 Nov 2004
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- 34
Hope you're sure about that. Always nice to get it out of your system when you're young. No way could I do my 20's now (at 32). And I am convinced Tokyo is the best place in the world to do that... totally socially acceptable to make a complete *** out of yourself outside of work, sleep in your own vomit on the sidewalk, stumble in to work on no sleep, or any other number of things you can't do in the west.
Ewok85
先輩
- 14 Nov 2003
- 2,401
- 44
I got a thorough laughing at for my actions at one work nomikai - apparently I couldn't even stand up on the train home with some workmates, and to be honest everything after that is a blank
Took the day off, which my bucho thought was amusing when they told him about it the next day since he was worried 
The cost of living in Tokyo isn't that bad, salaries are higher than that of other asian countries which levels things out more.
JerseyBoy
Back in town
- 31 Dec 2005
- 537
- 9
Oh, that's just great. Now after 13 years of living in NY/NJ areas, I am moving to another expensive place to live. At least, I don't mind spending money on it.
- 5 Feb 2005
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I live in a government house (because when I came and live here I did not had a job so my wife was so smart to get a house true the City hall) and I pay only 23.000yen a month for 2 6tatami size rooms, and a Dinning kitchen... Kobe isn't that expensive
IMO.
shtooky
先輩
- 12 Mar 2007
- 34
- 0
you should do what im going to do . im gonig to master in game design/ animation , and minor in japanese , graphic design , and buisness. and possibly do some culinary. havent decided yet . BUT im going to stay in the us , and hopefully work my way up, to where i at least work with japan on video games ... or something , you cant expect, even in america to get an animation job right away, thats why im going to have ten things to fall back on. and if you do move to japan. good luck with everything . here check this out just for a litle info. ok it wont let me put up urls so imna type it diffrently
www(dot)japan-guide(dot)com/e/e625.html
it talks about transportation, taxes , cost of living ... exc.
www(dot)japan-guide(dot)com/e/e625.html
it talks about transportation, taxes , cost of living ... exc.
maushan3
Back home
- 1 Feb 2007
- 600
- 23
That's really cool, dude. You go and do your thing.
I wanna give some pointers regarding this:
You do what you love, that's what life is about, but... the way the economy is going right now, I mean world economy, one can't rely just on his/her job, my recommendation is go for the job, but in your speartime start a little business of your own... you like computer jobs, so you can start by offering some services regarding your job in spare time, like I said, that way, you won't even have to worry about getting money to go visit Japan.
You could also invest money or something good like that., many ways to make money.
Mauricio
GaijinPunch
遠いから行きません
- 25 Nov 2004
- 1,275
- 34
These lists have a lot to do w/ the yen getting really weak against the dollar, and even moreso the euro. Some of them are also based on expats living there, not the actual people. Would have to see the list.
Either way, it's pricey.
Ranpyon
先輩
- 6 Mar 2007
- 44
- 2
I live in a government house (because when I came and live here I did not had a job so my wife was so smart to get a house true the City hall) and I pay only 23.000yen a month for 2 6tatami size rooms, and a Dinning kitchen... Kobe isn't that expensive
Wow, lucky you!
In Tokyo even a dormitory is more expensive than 23,000/Y a month >_<
Apartament hunting is really a bad thing lol it's driving me CRAZY.
Talking about budget, my parents will give me 200,000/Y a month, so I guess I'll have to find a part-time job or something, because I don't want to ask them more money just because of my extra expenses.
Ahhh, if I just were a native English speaker T___T I guess it's kinda easy for native English speaker to give private English lessons and make an extra x___x
kurtis dawber
hknuddv
- 6 Jan 2007
- 5
- 0
living costs (at current pound to yen rate) in tokyo (i'm not including housing/appartments) are amazingly similar to manchester (where i live)
although of course my research is probably inacurate and housing is more expensive
has anyone else found the same thing about manchester or england in general?
please tolerate me, i'm naive
although of course my research is probably inacurate and housing is more expensive
has anyone else found the same thing about manchester or england in general?
please tolerate me, i'm naive
JerseyBoy
Back in town
- 31 Dec 2005
- 537
- 9
Tokyo is rather spread out covering core metro districts and suburbs. If you are going to work in one of 23 metro districts and want to keep the commuting time and stress to a manageable level, up to what areas of Tokyo metro areas are considered a "cut-off" line as far as choosing the place to live?
Ewok85
先輩
- 14 Nov 2003
- 2,401
- 44
Depends on alot of factors - how much do you want to pay, what size apartment, how far from the station, how long a commute, how cramp a commute, etc.
My commute is just under a hour, not too badly squashed in, with a comfortable apartment 10mins from a station at a reasonable price.
I could move into the 23-ku area, but then the price goes up, size comes down, and I'm happy with what I have now.
My commute is just under a hour, not too badly squashed in, with a comfortable apartment 10mins from a station at a reasonable price.
I could move into the 23-ku area, but then the price goes up, size comes down, and I'm happy with what I have now.
JerseyBoy
Back in town
- 31 Dec 2005
- 537
- 9
I think a 1-hour commute is reasonable (2 hours a day in both ways). During the rush hours (in the morning and evening), the trains would be cramped up tight. As long as it is not too cramped (cramped enough to have the station attendants to push commuters in the train), I don't mind about that part of the deal. I want to keep the rent to near JPY 100,000 / month or less if possible. I used to have a studio apartment in NYC metro areas and I want to keep the housing cost in Tokyo in line with what I used to pay in USA. I don't mind walking to the nearby train/subway station up to 10 to 15 minutes (of course, the shorter the distance to the station is, the better for me).
Once I get used to Tokyo areas, I think I would get the feel of this matter. But, I would like to hear the comments/suggestions from someone who is already familiar with these matters.
Once I get used to Tokyo areas, I think I would get the feel of this matter. But, I would like to hear the comments/suggestions from someone who is already familiar with these matters.
Ewok85
先輩
- 14 Nov 2003
- 2,401
- 44
Depends on where you work, but living on the outskirts of Tokyo will give you that 1hour - ie. Just inside Saitama, Kanagawa or Chiba, or living past Chofu out west Tokyo.
It'll happen, you can't avoid it
You'd be far better thinking "1 weeks rent is one weeks pay" or whatever you used to pay, rather than a straight comparison.
I've never lived in Tokyo, but isn't 8 million a year salary pretty damn good? That's like 76,000$USD. I lived in kyoto with a 2 million salary and it was pretty good. I did get a good deal on housing though.
So wouldn't 2.5 to 3 million yen a year be enough to live even in Tokyo?
- 20 Aug 2003
- 4,910
- 416
Dundas,
Depends on where you live there, and what your lifestyle is. Parking will cost plenty, and just like any big city, the closer you are to city center, the more expensive housing is. Some places charge enough rent to kill your entire monthly paycheck on a 3 million yen/year salary.
Interesting that you would dredge up a 1-year-old thread...
Depends on where you live there, and what your lifestyle is. Parking will cost plenty, and just like any big city, the closer you are to city center, the more expensive housing is. Some places charge enough rent to kill your entire monthly paycheck on a 3 million yen/year salary.
Interesting that you would dredge up a 1-year-old thread...
