Cost of Living in Japan【2024】

Summary

In this video, the speaker, Yu, provides an insightful guide to the cost of living in Japan in 2024. He breaks down the necessary expenses for a single person, including rent, utilities, groceries, and social security costs. Yu offers practical tips for reducing expenses, such as switching utility providers and opting for budget SIM cards. The video also highlights the variability of costs depending on location, with detailed examples from Tokyo and rural areas. Yu’s aim is to help foreigners understand the true cost of living in Japan and how to live more affordably while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

Takeaways

• 😀 Japan has a diverse image: some people view it as the country of anime, beautiful seasons, and samurai, while others associate it with economic struggles and an aging society.
• 😀 The cost of living in Japan can vary widely based on location, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. The following breakdown is based on an average single person's expenses.
• 😀 Rent is typically the largest expense in Japan, and it varies greatly depending on the area. For example, rent in Tokyo's Shinjuku can be as high as 134,000 yen, while in rural areas like Toto, it's only 35,100 yen.
• 😀 Average utility bills (electricity, gas, water, and internet) for a single person in Japan total about 16,500 yen. Electricity costs 6,800 yen, gas costs 3,300 yen, water costs 2,200 yen, and internet costs around 3,000 yen.
• 😀 To reduce utility costs, consider switching your electricity and gas provider, as the market became liberalized in 2017, encouraging price competition.
• 😀 Internet costs can be minimized by switching to budget SIM cards, which are widely available and can keep monthly bills under 3,000 yen, especially for those who don't need high data usage.
• 😀 Grocery costs for a single person in Japan average 40,000 yen per month, but it can be adjusted depending on personal consumption habits and preferences.
• 😀 Social security costs in Japan include health insurance, pension, employment insurance, resident tax, and income tax. For someone with a monthly salary of 250,000 yen in Tokyo, these could total 52,597 yen per month.
• 😀 The high social security costs are offset by Japan's low medical costs, waste management services, and efficient public infrastructure.
• 😀 While rent, utilities, and social security are fixed costs, entertainment expenses like clothing, subscriptions (e.g., Netflix), and hobbies can easily push monthly expenses over 200,000 yen.
• 😀 The easiest expenses to control are those related to internet bills and potentially grocery costs. The speaker plans to provide further details on optimizing internet and other living costs in future videos.

Q & A

What are the main living expenses in Japan for a single person in 2024?

The main living expenses in Japan for a single person include rent, electricity, water, gas, internet bills, grocery expenses, and social security costs such as health insurance, pension, and taxes.

How much does rent typically cost for a 1K apartment in Japan?

Rent for a 1K apartment varies by location. For example, in Tokyo's Shinjuku area, rent averages 134,000 yen, while in rural areas like Tottori prefecture, it can be as low as 35,100 yen.

How can someone reduce their electricity and gas bills in Japan?

Electricity and gas bills can be reduced by switching providers, as the market was liberalized in 2017. You can compare prices using comparison websites like kakaku.com to find cheaper options.

What is the average monthly grocery expense for a single person in Japan?

The average monthly grocery expense for a single person in Japan is around 40,000 yen, though this can vary based on factors like gender and body type.

How can one lower their mobile phone bill in Japan?

To lower your mobile phone bill, consider switching to budget SIM cards, which cost around 3,000 yen per month for 20GB of data. Avoid expensive contracts with major carriers like AU, SoftBank, or DoCoMo.

What is included in Japan's Social Security costs?

Japan's Social Security costs include health insurance, pension, employment insurance, resident tax, and income tax. These costs are mandatory and vary based on salary and location.

What is the average cost of living for a single person in Japan, including rent and utilities?

For a single person in Japan, the average cost of living includes rent (74,000 yen), electricity (6,800 yen), gas (3,300 yen), water (2,200 yen), internet (3,000 yen), and groceries (40,000 yen), totaling approximately 129,300 yen per month, not including social security costs.

How can foreigners reduce their pension payments in Japan?

Foreigners who work in Japan for more than 6 months may be eligible for a pension refund, provided they meet specific criteria and follow the refund procedure.

Are entertainment expenses included in the basic cost of living in Japan?

No, entertainment expenses such as clothes, movies, or subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are additional costs and are not included in the basic cost of living.

What are the common ways to cut down on living expenses in Japan?

Common ways to reduce living expenses in Japan include switching to budget SIM cards for cheaper mobile and internet bills, choosing more affordable grocery options, and living in less expensive areas for rent.