How much does it cost to move to Japan? Explain the breakdown
“How much does it cost to move to Japan?”
“I want to know the cost of moving to Japan and move forward with my move to Japan.”
Many people may not know how much it will cost to move to Japan. Knowing how much you can afford will make it easier to make concrete plans for your move.
This time, we will introduce the approximate cost of moving to Japan. We will also introduce things you should be careful about when living in Japan after moving to Japan, so please take a look.
Also, if you want to know the market rent prices in Japan, we recommend the following articles.
Rent market prices by region and in Japan! Where is the cheapest place to rent?
How much does it cost to move to Japan?
How much does it actually cost to move to Japan? We will introduce the breakdown of migration costs and the approximate total amount of migration costs. This is just an example. Please be aware that the actual price may vary and the price may be higher than expected.
What exactly does it cost?
Let's start by figuring out what things cost. When you think about the cost of traveling by plane (travel expenses) and the cost of signing a contract for a house, you may be thinking that it will cost a lot of money. Knowing the actual amount will make it easier to make concrete plans for your move. I think it will relieve your anxiety, so please check it out.
The specific details for immigrating to Japan are as follows. (In addition to this, there may be additional costs depending on the individual.)
- Travel expenses
- House contract costs (deposit/key money)
- Communication expenses
- food expenses
- Water and utility costs
- Furniture fee
- Consumables fee
- entertainment expenses etc.
Travel expenses vary depending on the country, so we will not explain them here.
Let's assume that the contract cost for a house is for a single person living in Tokyo's 23 wards. In Tokyo's 23 wards, the average monthly rent for a 1K property is said to be approximately 80,000 yen.
In addition, when renting a home in Japan, an initial fee called Shikikin Keykin is required. The standard security deposit key money is set at approximately one month's rent. In addition, various other fees will be charged at the time of signing the contract, so it is a good idea to aim for 4 to 5 months' worth of initial costs. For example, if the rent for a room is 80,000 yen, check that it will cost around 320,000 to 400,000 yen.
If you cook your own meals, you can save about 500 yen per meal. Assuming that you eat three times a day and it costs about 1,500 yen a day, you should think that it will cost you about 30,000 to 40,000 yen per month.
Also, please consider that if you live alone, your utilities costs will be around 10,000 yen. (*)
Also, regarding communication costs. Cell phones and smartphones are essential to living in Japan. With a typical major carrier, you can probably sign a contract for around 10,000 yen per month. If you want to use your current smartphone, ask your mobile company to tell you how to transfer it.
Total amount of migration costs
If you add up the amounts explained above, the minimum amount you will need to spend per month after immigrating will be approximately the following amount.
| House contract cost (including security deposit and key money) | 320,000 to 400,000 yen |
| food expenses | 30,000 to 40,000 yen |
| Water and utility costs | Around 10,000 yen |
| Communication expenses | Around 10,000 yen |
The total cost will be around 500,000 yen. Consider the cost by adding travel expenses to the above prices.
In addition to this, you will also need to pay for the furniture in the room and entertainment costs. Also, it's a good idea to have as much cash as possible in case something emerges.
Things to keep in mind when moving to Japan
I think there are some people who immigrated to Japan but get confused by Japan's unique culture and rules. Here, we will introduce the things you should be aware of after moving to Japan. By learning about the culture in Japan, you can actually think about your plans after moving to Japan.
Paydays vary
When it comes to paydays in Japanese companies, last month's salary may be transferred to you at the end of the month or the 20th of the next month. Remember that working doesn't mean you'll get paid right away. Therefore, even if you have already found a job in Japan and want to move to Japan, make sure you come to Japan with sufficient funds. Please don't worry about not having enough money to come to Japan.
Transportation expenses will be transferred along with your salary
Some people may go to work from home by bus or train. For such people, transportation expenses are usually paid by the company, but there may be cases where you do not know how they will be paid. Transportation expenses are usually transferred along with your salary. When you receive your salary, make sure that transportation expenses are included.
food is not expensive
Eating out in Japan is relatively cheap. You can get a sufficient meal for 500 to 1000 yen for lunch, and 1000 to 1500 yen for dinner. If you want to save even more money, we recommend cooking your own meals.
summary
The important points in the article are as follows.
- The average rent for a 1K building in Tokyo's 23 wards is 80,000 yen.
- When renting a house, the initial cost is four to five times the rent.
- Paydays in Japanese companies vary.
- Transportation expenses are often included in your salary.
People moving to Japan for the first time may feel anxious because there are many things they don't know. If you have any questions, ask your real estate agent or the company you plan to work for and try to resolve them one by one. Please have a wonderful life in Japan.
*Reference: 2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey Single-person Household Detailed Results│Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?page=1&layout=datalist&toukei=00200561&tstat=000000330001&cycle=7&year=20200&month= 0&tclass1=000000330001&tclass2=000000330022&tclass3=000000330023&stat_infid=000032048963&result_back=1&tclass4val=0
