# Cost of living in Japan for a foreign resident: single, couple and family budgets

URL: https://japanhow.com/money/budgeting/cost-of-living-japan-foreigners/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 27, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, official 2025 averages put spending at ¥173,042 a month for a single-person household and ¥314,001 for households of two or more, averaging 2.87 people. Both exclude foreign households and average in homeowners who pay no rent. Adding the 2023 national average private apartment rent of ¥68,548 gives a rough ¥219,900 for a single renter and ¥363,900 for a larger household, before income tax and social insurance.

## Key facts

- Single household, 2025: ¥173,042 a month average
- 2+ person household, 2025: ¥314,001 a month average
- Private rent, non-wooden, 2023: ¥68,548 a month
- Move-in cost: 4 to 7 months' rent

The cost of living in Japan for a foreigner has no official number, because the government's household survey leaves out foreign households. As of October 2026, its 2025 averages are **¥173,042 a month for a single person** and **¥314,001 for a household of two or more** (2.87 people on average). Add the 2023 average private rent of **¥68,548** and a single renter lands near **¥219,900 a month** before taxes and social insurance. That is our estimate, not an official figure.

**Single person, average rent, 2025 spending:** About ¥219,900 a month (Our estimate: average non-housing spending plus 2023 average private rent. Excludes income tax and social insurance.)

## Why can't you trust the average figures?

The Household Survey (家計調査) from the Statistics Bureau (総務省統計局) is the standard source. Three limits matter for you:

- **It skips foreigners.** The survey does not cover foreign households (外国人世帯) or single-person student households.
- **Its housing line is too low for renters.** Rent is averaged over every household, including owners who pay none. The Bureau says so in its survey notes.
- **It is an older sample.** Single-person households average 58.6 years old. Two-or-more households have a head aged 60.7 on average.

Use the numbers as a benchmark. Your own budget depends on your city, your home and your family.

## What does a single person spend in Japan?

These are the 2025 monthly averages for single-person households, all ages and homeowners included:

| Item | Monthly average, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Food (食料) | ¥49,321 |
| Housing (住居), owners included | ¥21,667 |
| Utilities (光熱・水道) | ¥13,333 |
| Furniture and household goods | ¥6,120 |
| Clothing and footwear | ¥4,908 |
| Health care | ¥8,754 |
| Transport and communication | ¥19,334 |
| Recreation and culture | ¥21,173 |
| Other (gifts, social costs, money sent to family) | ¥28,396 |
| **Total consumption** | **¥173,042** |

The "other" line includes remittances to relatives (仕送り金). If you send money home, add that to your own total; the survey gives no foreigner-specific figure.

## What does a couple or a family spend?

For households of two or more, the 2025 average is **¥314,001**, with food at ¥94,895, utilities at ¥24,547, transport and communication at ¥45,730, recreation at ¥32,125 and education at ¥11,939. The average household has 2.87 people, so this is a mix of couples, families and older couples, not a typical family of four.

Worker households of two or more have 3.20 people on average, with 1.81 earners. They spent **¥346,297** a month, out of a gross income of ¥653,901 and a disposable income of ¥532,408. The gap between gross and disposable (¥121,493) is direct taxes and social insurance, which the consumption figure leaves out.

Education and child care vary widely by school type. See [international school costs](/money/education/international-school-cost-japan/) and [daycare for foreign families](/life/family/daycare-hoikuen-foreigners/). See also [child allowance](/money/benefits/child-allowance-japan-foreigners/).

## How much is rent for a foreigner in Japan?

The 2023 Housing and Land Survey gives national monthly averages for rented homes:

| Type of rental | Average monthly rent, 2023 |
|---|---|
| All rented dwellings | ¥59,656 |
| Private, wooden | ¥54,409 |
| Private, non-wooden (apartment buildings) | ¥68,548 |
| Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) and public corporation | ¥71,831 |
| Public housing (公営) | ¥24,961 |

These are national figures. Rents in Tokyo and other large cities are higher, and we did not confirm an official city figure, so check current listings. The lowest rents are for public housing, which we did not research here. For UR housing, see [UR housing for foreigners](/housing/renting/ur-housing-foreigners/).

## What does it cost to start a life in Japan?

The first month costs far more than the rest. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) gives a rule of thumb of **4 to 7 months' rent** at signing. That covers the security deposit (敷金), key money (礼金), the agent fee, damage insurance and the first month's rent.

- If a real estate agent acts as intermediary, you are charged an agency fee (仲介手数料). Ask for the amount before signing.
- A guarantor company (保証会社) fee is often 35% to 50% of one month's rent for two years.

Without a Japanese guarantor, you will probably need that company. Read [how to rent an apartment as a foreigner](/housing/renting/how-to-rent-apartment-japan-foreigner/) and [how guarantor companies work](/housing/renting/guarantor-company-japan/) before you sign.

## What does a rough budget look like?

This is our own arithmetic, not an official budget. We take the average non-housing spending and add the 2023 national average private non-wooden rent of ¥68,548.

| Household | Non-housing spending | Plus average rent | Rough monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person | ¥151,375 | ¥68,548 | About ¥219,900 |
| Two or more people (average 2.87) | ¥295,323 | ¥68,548 | About ¥363,900 |

Income tax, resident tax and social insurance come on top. A foreigner on a ¥300,000 monthly salary in Tokyo, under 40, keeps about **¥249,610** in year one, according to our [take-home pay guide](/money/tax/take-home-pay-japan/). Resident tax starts the following June, at about ¥12,550 a month in that example. So the single budget above leaves little room if you rent at the average and earn ¥300,000.

## Which costs depend on your status?

- **Workers in a company plan:** health insurance and Employees' Pension come out of your pay, as shown in the take-home guide. See [shakai hoken vs National Health Insurance](/money/insurance/shakai-hoken-vs-national-health-insurance/).
- **Students, freelancers and unemployed residents:** you pay National Pension yourself. The FY2026 contribution is **¥17,920 a month**. See [pension for foreigners](/money/pension/japan-pension-foreigners/).

**Ask a professional for your own case:** Tax and visa questions depend on your status. For tax, ask a licensed tax accountant (税理士). For your status of residence, ask a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) or the immigration office.

## What did we not confirm?

We did not confirm an official average rent for Tokyo, the government's single-worker spending figure, or how much foreign residents send home on average. We left them out instead of using blog numbers.

## More guides

- [Take-home pay in Japan](/money/tax/take-home-pay-japan/)
- [How to rent an apartment as a foreigner](/housing/renting/how-to-rent-apartment-japan-foreigner/)
- [Guarantor companies in Japan](/housing/renting/guarantor-company-japan/)
- [Setting up utilities](/housing/renting/utilities-setup-japan/)
- [Sending money from Japan](/money/remittance/send-money-from-japan/)
- [Minimum wage in Japan](/work/rights/minimum-wage-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### How much does it cost to live in Japan for a foreigner per month?

There is no official figure for foreigners. For all households, the government's 2025 survey shows ¥173,042 a month for a single person and ¥314,001 for two or more, but these include homeowners and exclude foreign households. A single renter paying the average private rent would spend roughly ¥219,900 by our estimate.

### Is Japan expensive for foreigners?

The official data has no separate foreigner prices. The visible extra cost for newcomers is at the start: moving in usually costs 4 to 7 months' rent, and a guarantor company often charges 35% to 50% of one month's rent for two years.

### How much do I need to live comfortably in Japan?

Official data does not define comfortable. As a reference, a single worker on a ¥300,000 monthly salary in Tokyo keeps about ¥249,610 in year one, which is above our rough ¥219,900 average-rent budget but leaves little once resident tax starts.

### Do the government statistics include foreign residents?

No. The Household Survey (家計調査) does not survey foreign households (外国人世帯) or single-person student households. Treat its numbers as a Japanese-household benchmark.

### Are rents the same everywhere in Japan?

No. The 2023 averages are national. Big-city rents are higher, and we did not confirm an official Tokyo figure, so check listings in your area.

## Sources

- [2025年（令和７年）家計の概要](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kakei/2025np/pdf/summary.pdf), Statistics Bureau of Japan (総務省統計局) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [家計調査の概要](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kakei/2025np/pdf/gaiyou.pdf), Statistics Bureau of Japan (総務省統計局) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [令和5年住宅・土地統計調査 基本集計 結果の概要](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jyutaku/2023/pdf/kihon_gaiyou.pdf), Statistics Bureau of Japan (総務省統計局) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [Guide to renting (English)](https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001317844.pdf), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [National Pension contributions](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/japanese-system/nationalpension/np_contribution.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [令和８年３月分からの保険料額表（東京支部）](https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/assets/R8_13tokyo.pdf), Japan Health Insurance Association (協会けんぽ) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)